Word
Definitions
01expressing opinions
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. expressing your opinions or feelings frequently and strongly.
adj. disposed to express opinions or feelings freely and forcefully.
“She has always been a vocal critic of the new government policies.”
“The local community became increasingly vocal about the proposed development, attending every council meeting to voice their concerns.”
Synonyms
02relating to the voice
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science
adj. relating to the human voice or the sounds people make when speaking or singing.
adj. pertaining to or produced by the human voice.
“The singer had to rest her vocal cords after the long concert tour.”
“The therapist worked with the patient to improve their vocal resonance following the surgery on their throat.”
03singing in music
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. the part of a piece of music that is sung rather than played on instruments.
n. the sung component of a musical recording or performance, often distinguished from the instrumental backing.
“The lead singer's vocals were much louder than the guitars in this mix.”
“The producer decided to layer the backing vocals to create a more ethereal atmosphere during the chorus.”
Usage
Often used in the plural form 'vocals' when referring to a performance.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vocal” in context.
Verb
01. become increasingly vocal
“Residents have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the new highway project.”
verb + adv + adj
02. record the vocals
“The band spent three weeks in the studio to record the vocals for their debut album.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. highly vocal
“A highly vocal minority of shareholders opposed the merger during the annual meeting.”
adv + adj
04. vocal about the issue
“The local community has been very vocal about the issue of rising pollution levels.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
05. vocal cords
“The singer had to cancel the tour after straining her vocal cords during rehearsals.”
adj + noun
06. vocal performance
“Critics praised her stunning vocal performance in the new Broadway production.”
adj + noun
07. vocal support for the policy
“The senator received vocal support for the policy from environmental activists.”
adj + noun + prep + adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“They also raised the minimum age for participating singers from 16 to 18; and introduced stricter rules around the use of pre-recorded vocals at the contest.” “A powerhouse version of Dangerous Woman claps like thunder; and Grande's vocal riffs on Safety Net are so tremendously colossal they should be registered as the eighth wonder of the world.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ-der. Proto-Indo-European *wṓkʷs Proto-Italic *wōks Latin vōx Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin vōcālisbor. Middle English vocal English vocal Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vocal
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0