Sound out Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To try to find out someone’s opinion or feelings about something in a careful, indirect way; or to say the sounds of letters in a word one by one to help pronounce it.
Usage & Nuances
'Sound out' can be used for discreetly checking someone's views ("sound out a colleague") or for helping with reading ('sound out the word'). In spoken English, the first sense is more common in adult, professional, or negotiation contexts. The pronunciation sense often appears when teaching children.
Example Sentences
The teacher asked the class to sound out each letter in the word.
basic
They want to sound out their friends before making a big decision.
basic
Please sound out this word slowly.
basic
Before launching the project, management decided to sound out some key clients.
natural
If you’re not sure, sound out your team before making changes.
natural
My son tries to sound out tricky words when he's reading.
natural