# sounding

/ˈsaʊndɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈaʊndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sounding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. checking opinions

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an attempt to find out what people think about a plan or idea before making a final decision.

For teachers: the process of eliciting opinions or information from a group to gauge potential reactions to a proposal. Often used in the plural form 'soundings'.

- The government took soundings from local business leaders before changing the tax laws.
- After taking initial soundings among the board members, the CEO decided to postpone the merger until the following fiscal year.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrase 'to take soundings'.

### 2. measuring water depth

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a measurement of how deep a body of water is, usually taken from a ship.

For teachers: the action or process of measuring the depth of water, typically using a line and lead or electronic equipment.

- The crew took a sounding to make sure the water was deep enough for the ship to pass.
- Precise sonar soundings revealed a previously uncharted trench on the ocean floor, measuring several kilometres in length.

### 3. making a sound

adjective · CEFR B2

making a specific type of noise or having a particular quality of voice.

For teachers: producing or emitting a sound; often used in compound adjectives to describe the quality of a noise.

- The grand, hollow-sounding room made every footstep seem very loud.
- He delivered a professional-sounding presentation that masked his lack of actual experience in the field.

## Examples

- The manager took soundings from the team before changing the schedule.
- The government is taking soundings among local businesses to see how they would react to a new tax.
- Initial soundings suggest that while the board supports the merger in principle, there are significant concerns regarding the proposed leadership structure and long-term debt obligations.

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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.