English Reference
verb

volley

v.
US /ˈvɑɫi/ UK /vˈɒli/ vol·ley UK spelling volleyed, volleys

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Literary

    to send out many things, like shots or words, all at once.

    to discharge or emit in a volley; often used figuratively for the rapid exchange of speech.

    Simple

    The two speakers volleyed insults at each other during the heated debate.

    In context

    The cannons volleyed their thunderous reports across the valley, signaling the start of the final engagement.


From Middle French volée (“flight”), from Vulgar Latin volta, from Late Latin volatus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated