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View synonyms for volley

volley

[ vol-ee ]

noun

, plural vol·leys.
  1. the simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles or firearms.
  2. the missiles so discharged.
  3. a burst or outpouring of many things at once or in quick succession:

    a volley of protests.

  4. Tennis.
    1. the flight of the ball before it hits the ground.
    2. the return of the ball before it hits the ground.
  5. Soccer. a kick of the ball before it bounces on the ground.
  6. Cricket. a ball so bowled that it hits the wicket before it touches the ground.
  7. Mining. the explosion of several charges at one time.


verb (used with object)

, vol·leyed, vol·ley·ing.
  1. to discharge in or as in a volley.
  2. Tennis. to return (the ball) before it hits the ground.
  3. Soccer. to kick (the ball) before it bounces on the ground.
  4. Cricket. to bowl (a ball) in such a manner that it is pitched near the top of the wicket.

verb (used without object)

, vol·leyed, vol·ley·ing.
  1. to fly or be discharged together, as missiles.
  2. to move or proceed with great rapidity, as in a volley.
  3. to fire a volley; sound together, as firearms.
  4. Tennis, Soccer. to return the ball before it touches the ground.

volley

/ ˈvɒlɪ /

noun

  1. the simultaneous discharge of several weapons, esp firearms
  2. the projectiles or missiles so discharged
  3. a burst of oaths, protests, etc, occurring simultaneously or in rapid succession
  4. sport a stroke, shot, or kick at a moving ball before it hits the ground Compare half volley
  5. cricket the flight of such a ball or the ball itself
  6. the simultaneous explosion of several blastings of rock


verb

  1. to discharge (weapons, etc) in or as if in a volley or (of weapons, etc) to be discharged
  2. tr to utter vehemently or sound loudly and continuously
  3. tr sport to strike or kick (a moving ball) before it hits the ground
  4. intr to issue or move rapidly or indiscriminately

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Derived Forms

  • ˈvolleyer, noun

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Other Words From

  • volley·er noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of volley1

1565–75; < Middle French volee flight, noun use of feminine past participle of voler to fly < Latin volāre

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Word History and Origins

Origin of volley1

C16: from French volée a flight, from voler to fly, from Latin volāre

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Example Sentences

Far from it if the volley of concerns toward the company in recent weeks is anything to go by.

From Digiday

It is the place where the current hostilities began about two weeks ago, with a volley of shots from a sniper rifle.

From Time

Agency bureaucrats and journalists responded with a volley of lawsuits, whistleblower complaints and a petition demanding the removal of Pack’s appointees.

I saw the head-jockeying, open-mouth volleys that blurred into unrecognizability in real time.

USTR hurled an even bigger tariff volley — and so it went until the end of 2019, when the administration delayed a new round of consumer goods tariffs set to go into effect right before Christmas.

An initial volley of missiles killed five people in the home, and 10 minutes later a second volley killed up to 11 rescuers.

This was the rear guard of an army that lost a battle, firing one last volley before retreating.

The stories trailed off at the firing of the three-volley salute and as Taps began to play.

But given the volley of claim and counterclaim, it seems unlikely that this will, in fact, be the final exchange.

That, it appears, is the first volley in what will inevitably become a protracted conflict.

A far-off volley rumbled over the plain, and a few birds stirred uneasily among the trees.

A volley did sound, and instantly; but it came from the rocks above, and three of the villains fell.

At once the sepoys at the Kashmir Gate fired a volley at the nearest officers, of whom three fell dead.

Firing a random volley, those that lived turned and fled, pursued by the scouts.

The bushes seemed to burst into smoke and flame, and then came a crashing volley in return.

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Volksraadvolleyball