sound out
Speak each syllable
Sound out means to pronounce something by articulating each part separately, especially when learning to read: The teacher asked the children to sound out the word.
It also means to cautiously test someone's opinion or intentions before committing: I'll sound out the boss about taking Friday off.
Both senses involve careful, gradual exploration—of syllables or of attitudes.
Seek an answer
- questionRequest for information
- queryRequest for information
- consultSeek expert guidance
- gaugeStandard of measurement
assess · canvass · test the waters · explore · investigate · probe · survey · poll
ask
Seek an answer
gauge · assess · canvass · test the waters · explore · investigate · probe · survey · poll · solicit
pronunciation
Manner of speaking words
- enunciateSpeak with clarity
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- vocalizeProduce sounds aloud
syllable · phonics · diction · decipher · spell · blend · segment · decode · read aloud · literacy
- music expressionsmusic to my ears, in tune, play it by ear, strike a chord, call the tune
- feeling outtest the waters, probe, gauge, trial balloon, read the room
- readingfluency, read, comprehension, readers, books
- Understanding Othersknow someone, see through, size up, empathize, put yourself in their shoes
- bounce offricochet, rebound, deflect, carom, glance
- trial runstest, trial run, test run, dry run, tryout
sound outsilent reading
Absorbing text without vocalizing
sight-read · speed read · skim · scan · internalize
sound outconfront
Face squarely, address directly
interrogate · put on the spot · demand · call out · declare
sound, outside, out, sounds, outdo, soundly, sounding, sounded, resound