volley

1 of 2

noun

vol·​ley ˈvä-lē 

plural volleys

1

a(1)

: the flight of the ball (as in volleyball or tennis) or its course before striking the ground

also : a return of the ball before it touches the ground

(2)

: a kick of the ball in soccer before it rebounds

(3)

: the exchange of the shuttlecock in badminton following the serve

b

: a flight of missiles (such as arrows)

c

: simultaneous discharge of a number of missile weapons

d

: one round per gun in a battery fired as soon as a gun is ready without regard to order

2

a

: a burst or emission of many things or a large amount at once

received a volley of angry letters

b

: a burst of simultaneous or immediately sequential nerve impulses passing to an end organ, synapse, or center

volley

2 of 2

verb

volleyed; volleying

transitive verb

1

: to propel (an object) while in the air and before touching the ground

especially : to hit (a tennis ball) on the volley

2

: to discharge in or as if in a volley

intransitive verb

1

: to make a volley

specifically : to volley an object of play (as in tennis)

2

: to become discharged in or as if in a volley

volleyer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• barrage
• blitz
• blitzkrieg
• bombardment
• cannonade
• drumbeat
• drumfire
• flurry
• fusillade
• hail
• salvo
• shower
• storm

Examples of volley in a Sentence

Noun

The tank was hit by a volley of bullets.

She was overwhelmed by a volley of questions from the press.

Verb

She volleyed the shot over the net.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with the Israeli military in parallel with the war with Hamas in Gaza, last week launched the largest volleys of rockets and drones in eight months. —Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 17 June 2024

However, the War laid bare the inconvenience of the pocket watch—indeed, timing an artillery volley or synchronizing a charge over a trench was nearly impossible when one was also expected to aim and fire one’s weapon, among other tasks. —Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 13 June 2024

Verb

The Hermosa Beach Police Department determined that a group of teenagers caused the commotion by volleying fireworks into Pier Plaza. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

Looking out at the full courts, with the sound of tennis balls volleying back and forth echoing behind her, Genna said that for her, the annual event is bittersweet. —Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French volee flight, from voler to fly, from Old French, from Latin volare

First Known Use

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing volley

• drop volley
• half volley

Kids Definition

volley

1 of 2 noun

vol·​ley ˈväl-ē 

plural volleys

1

: a group of missiles (as arrows or bullets) passing through the air

2

: a firing of a number of weapons (as rifles) at the same time

3

: a bursting forth of many things at once

a volley of praise

4

: the act of volleying

volley

2 of 2 verb

volleyed; volleying

1

: to shoot in a volley

2

: to hit an object (as a ball) while it is in the air before it touches the ground

Medical Definition

volley

noun

vol·​ley ˈväl-ē 

plural volleys

: a burst of simultaneous or immediately sequential nerve impulses passing to an end organ, synapse, or center