# sound out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sound-out
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to talk to someone to find out what they think about an idea before you make a final decision.

For teachers: to investigate someone's opinions or intentions regarding a specific matter in an indirect or preliminary manner. Transitive and often used when testing the feasibility of a proposal.

## Examples

- I will sound out my boss about the new project.
- Before we announce the merger, we need to sound out the major shareholders to see if they agree.
- The diplomat spent the evening sounding out his counterparts to gauge their willingness to sign the treaty without further amendments.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to sound out of my team." but "I need to sound out my team." — the verb is transitive and takes the object directly after the particle 'out' without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- usually takes a person as the direct object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'ask' (direct) and 'consult' (formal); 'sound out' implies a cautious or exploratory approach to see if an idea will be well-received.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.