plural volleys
1
a(1)
: the flight of the ball (as in volleyball or tennis) or its course before striking the ground
also
: a return of the ball before it touches the ground
(2)
: a kick of the ball in soccer before it rebounds
(3)
: the exchange of the shuttlecock in badminton following the serve
b
: a flight of missiles (such as arrows)
c
: simultaneous discharge of a number of missile weapons
d
: one round per gun in a battery fired as soon as a gun is ready without regard to order
2
a
: a burst or emission of many things or a large amount at once
received a volley of angry letters
b
: a burst of simultaneous or immediately sequential nerve impulses passing to an end organ, synapse, or center
volleyed; volleying
1
: to propel (an object) while in the air and before touching the ground
especially
: to hit (a tennis ball) on the volley
2
: to discharge in or as if in a volley
1
: to make a volley
specifically
: to volley an object of play (as in tennis)
2
: to become discharged in or as if in a volley
volleyer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of volley in a Sentence
Noun
The tank was hit by a volley of bullets.
She was overwhelmed by a volley of questions from the press.
Verb
She volleyed the shot over the net.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Athletic Uk Football Writers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Imagine programming a sequence like a deep forehand return, followed by a short backhand, two volleys and an overhead shot — all saved and ready for your next practice session.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 1 Dec. 2024
Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 30 June 2024
The game finished in a 1-1 draw, with Fabio Vieira volleying home the opener before Antoine Semenyo equalised.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for volley 
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Noun
His thumping volley against Liverpool two days later, broadcast live on Sky’s Monday Night Football (that was still unusual then!), had to be seen to be believed.
—The Athletic Uk Football Writers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Imagine programming a sequence like a deep forehand return, followed by a short backhand, two volleys and an overhead shot — all saved and ready for your next practice session.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
Gascoigne flicked it over Colin Hendry with his left and volleyed it into the goal with his right.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 30 June 2024
The game finished in a 1-1 draw, with Fabio Vieira volleying home the opener before Antoine Semenyo equalised.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for volley
Dictionary Entries Near volley
Cite this Entry
“Volley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volley. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
volley
1 of 2 noun
vol·ley
ˈväl-ē 
plural volleys
1
: a group of missiles (as arrows or bullets) passing through the air
2
: a firing of a number of weapons (as rifles) at the same time
3
: a bursting forth of many things at once
a volley of praise
4
: the act of volleying
volley
2 of 2 verb
volleyed; volleying
1
: to shoot in a volley
2
: to hit an object (as a ball) while it is in the air before it touches the ground
Medical Definition
volley
noun
vol·ley
ˈväl-ē
plural volleys
: a burst of simultaneous or immediately sequential nerve impulses passing to an end organ, synapse, or center
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