louden: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Technical (audio/recording).
Quick answer
What does “louden” mean?
To become or make louder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To become or make louder; to increase in volume.
Can describe the process of something (sound, music, voice, protest) increasing in intensity or audibility, sometimes metaphorically for increasing prominence or force of a non-auditory phenomenon (e.g., demands, calls for action).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more literary in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in British English in technical audio descriptions, but marginal.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly formal. In creative writing, can carry a dramatic or deliberate connotation.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects. More likely encountered in written English (novels, technical manuals, journalism) than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “louden” in a Sentence
[S] + louden (intransitive)[S] + louden + [O] (transitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “louden” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The crowd's chanting began to louden as the team appeared.
- The engineer was asked to louden the strings in the final mix.
- Over the decades, calls for constitutional reform have steadily loudened.
American English
- The thunder loudened as the storm moved closer.
- Can you louden the microphone for the keynote speaker?
- Criticism of the policy has loudened considerably in recent weeks.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form. Use 'loudly', 'more loudly').
American English
- (No standard adverb form. Use 'loudly', 'more loudly').
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective form. Use 'loud', 'loudening' as participle adjective: 'the loudening roar').
American English
- (No standard adjective form. Use 'loud', 'loudening' as participle adjective: 'a loudening hum').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in PR/communications: 'Calls for transparency have loudened since the scandal.'
Academic
Rare. Possible in media studies or acoustics: 'The soundtrack loudens to signal the protagonist's anxiety.'
Everyday
Very rare. Most speakers would use 'get louder' or 'turn up'.
Technical
Used in audio engineering, sound mixing, music production: 'You need to louden the lead vocal in the chorus.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “louden”
- Using 'louden' as an adjective (*a louden noise). Correct: 'a loud noise'.
- Overusing in speech where a phrasal verb is more natural ('The music got louder' not 'The music loudened').
- Spelling: 'loud**e**n' (keep the 'e').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, somewhat formal/literary word. In everyday speech, phrases like 'get louder', 'turn up', or 'become louder' are far more common.
Yes, but this is metaphorical and stylised. It is used to describe protests, criticism, or demands becoming more forceful or prominent, as if they were increasing in volume. (e.g., 'Calls for change loudened').
'Amplify' is more technical and specific, often involving electronic or mechanical means to increase signal strength or volume. 'Louden' is more general, describing the process of becoming louder, whether natural or manipulated. 'Amplify' also has common metaphorical uses (e.g., 'amplify a message').
No. 'Louden' is a verb. The comparative form of the adjective 'loud' is 'louder'. You would say 'more loud' is non-standard; the correct form is 'louder'. For the verb, you might say 'louden it more'.
To become or make louder.
Louden is usually formal, literary, technical (audio/recording). in register.
Louden: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaʊd(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaʊd(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none directly with 'louden')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LOUD + EN (like 'widen' or 'brighten') – the process of BECOMING loud.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSITY IS VOLUME (e.g., 'The criticism loudened' = criticism became more intense/prominent).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate context to use the verb 'louden'?