louder

IPA/lˈaʊdə/
KK[lˈaʊdɚ]IPA/lˈaʊdər/

louder — adjective

1. producing a higher volume of sound than something else, or making more noise tha

1.adjectiveA1
Definition

producing a higher volume of sound than something else, or making more noise than is usual

Example

The children's voices grew louder as they ran across the school playground.

Mei-Lin's alarm clock was much louder than her roommate's, so she changed it.

comparative with 'much' and 'than'

Common collocations
  • much louder
  • even louder
  • far louder
  • grow louder
  • get louder
  • become louder
  • louder than
Synonyms
  • noisier

    more direct synonym for unpleasant or unwanted sound; 'louder' is more neutral about volume level

  • more deafening

    stronger and more emphatic; suggests the sound is almost painfully loud

  • more thunderous

    suggests a deep, rumbling quality rather than general volume

Antonyms
  • quieter

    direct opposite; producing less sound

  • softer

    suggests a gentler or lower volume

Usage Note

In informal English, 'louder' is often used as a comparative adverb with verbs like 'speak', 'shout', and 'play'. Formal writing prefers 'more loudly' for adverbial use.

Common Mistakes

The music was more loud than before.
The music was louder than before.
For short common adjectives like 'loud', use the -er comparative form instead of 'more + adjective'.

2. having colours or patterns that are too bright and strong to look pleasant; or d

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having colours or patterns that are too bright and strong to look pleasant; or describing a person who behaves in an overly noticeable and forceful way that attracts too much attention

Example

Chen Wei's bright yellow jacket was louder than anything else in the room.

comparative for bright clothing colour

Fatima thought the striped curtains looked even louder against the small bedroom walls.

Common collocations
  • even louder
  • far louder
  • look louder
  • seem louder
Synonyms
  • gaudier

    more negative; suggests cheapness or bad taste rather than just being bright

  • more garish

    strongly negative; describes something unpleasantly bright in a way that clashes

  • flashier

    describes something showy and intended to attract attention, not always negative

Antonyms
  • more subdued

    calmer and less intense in colour or behaviour

  • plainer

    simpler, without strong patterns or bright colours

Usage Note

Used for clothes, colours, patterns, interior design, and occasionally smell. When describing a person, it refers to their behaviour and manner of speaking rather than the volume of their voice.

Common Mistakes

The painting was louder than the photograph.
The colours in the painting were louder than those in the photograph.
When using 'louder' for visual meaning, it typically describes colours, patterns, or clothes, not whole objects.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Louder' and 'noisier' both describe increased sound, but 'noisier' carries a more negative feeling — it suggests unwanted or unpleasant sound, while 'louder' can be neutral (a louder speaker system). 'More deafening' is much stronger and implies the sound is almost painfully intense, often used for dramatic effect. 'More thunderous' specifically describes low, rumbling sounds like thunder or applause, whereas 'louder' covers all types of sound. For example: the traffic was noisier at rush hour (annoying sound), the crowd's response grew louder and louder (neutral volume increase), and the thunderous roar of the waterfall was more deafening up close (dramatic intensity).

noisier ↗more deafening ↗more thunderous ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • grow louder
  • get louder
  • become louder
  • louder and louder

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

'Louder' is the comparative form of 'loud', which comes from Old English 'hlūd', meaning 'making a loud noise'. The word traces back through Proto-Germanic '*hlūdaz' to the Proto-Indo-European root '*kleu-', meaning 'to hear'. Related words appear in Old High German ('hlūt'), Old Norse ('hljóðr'), and modern German ('laut').