Resounding

Resounding is an adjective and present participle derived from the verb resound, meaning to sound again or to emit a loud, clear sound. It describes both physical sounds and their effects: something resounding projects with force, clarity, or sustained presence, often filling a space with echo or reverberation. In acoustics and music, a resounding tone or voice is rich and powerful, capable of carrying across an auditorium or landscape.

The term can also be used figuratively to denote strong impact or broad recognition. A resounding victory, success, or endorsement implies a dramatic, widely acknowledged result or reception. In this sense, resounding emphasizes magnitude and resonance beyond the literal sound.

Etymology traces resounding to the base verb resound, which itself comes from Old French resonder and ultimately Latin resonare, meaning to sound again or to echo. The -ing form is used to describe ongoing or resulting qualities, whether audible or metaphorical.

Related concepts include resonance and reverberation, which describe how sound persists or is amplified within a space. Resounding differs from merely loud in that it conveys a sense of fullness, persistence, and clear imprint—whether in a sonic performance or in the impression left by an event, statement, or achievement.