faintly heard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "faintly heard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sound that is barely audible or difficult to perceive. Example: "In the quiet of the night, the distant sound of music was faintly heard from the nearby festival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

There's a dual soundtrack: a high wind, faintly heard; and, louder, sweet dings from a music box, slowed way down.

The New Yorker

Echoes of that fight were faintly heard this week in the renewed nature or nurture debate.

The Guardian

Meanwhile the band, faintly heard above the din, played: 'See the conquering hero comes'".

The Guardian - Sport

The video then cuts to a black screen, and what appear to be the voices of emergency personnel can be faintly heard.

The Guardian

(To put it simply, if you play a C on the piano, the vibrating piano string also produces a series of higher, more faintly heard notes: octaves, fifths and major thirds, and eventually all the notes of the chromatic scale).

The New York Times - Arts

Because the soundtrack on the film reels surviving from the television show recorded only Sinatra's voice and a faintly heard piano, Mr. Gerhard had to create a click track, or electronic metronome, conforming to the singer's tempos in 25 songs.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Matt must be at home, Cahill thought: he could faintly hear Mick Jagger singing.

The New Yorker

Without translators, we are left adrift on our various linguistic ice floes, only faintly hearing rumors of masterpieces elsewhere at sea.

The New Yorker

Pleasure boats look like toys on the sea hundreds of metres below, but the writer claims that he can sometimes faintly hear the amplified voices of the tour guides pointing out "the house of Gore Vidal... ...... in different languages.

The Guardian - Travel

Pleasure boats look like toys on the sea hundreds of metres below, but the writer claims that he can sometimes faintly hear the amplified voices of the tour guides pointing out "the house of Gore Vidal... .. in different languages.

The Guardian - Travel

Inside the locker room, on the other side of a closed door, I can faintly hear what I think is Garnett expressing both histrionic bitterness and sincere disbelief: "We're in shock," he keeps saying to his teammates.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faintly heard" to add a layer of subtlety and atmosphere to your writing, particularly when describing scenes where sounds are distant or obscured. For example, "The ship's bell was faintly heard through the fog".

Common error

Avoid using "faintly heard" excessively in dialogue-heavy scenes. Overusing it can make the narrative feel detached and distant from the characters' immediate experiences. Instead, focus on describing the characters' reactions to sounds.

Linguistic Context

Faintly heard functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (often 'sound', 'voice', or 'music') to describe its audibility. Ludwig indicates its correctness and common use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "faintly heard" serves as a descriptive phrase, conveying that a sound is barely audible. Ludwig confirms its validity and frequency in English writing. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it offers a nuanced way to portray sounds that are distant, obscured, or subtle. Alternatives such as "barely audible" or "softly audible" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis. When using "faintly heard", be mindful of overuse in dialogue to maintain narrative engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely audible

Emphasizes the minimal audibility of the sound.

softly audible

Highlights the low volume or intensity of the sound.

scarcely perceptible sound

Focuses on the difficulty in noticing the sound.

indistinctly audible

Suggests the sound lacks clarity or definition.

hardly detectable sound

Stresses the effort required to notice the sound.

muted sound

Implies a sound that is suppressed or softened.

subdued sound

Similar to muted but may also indicate a less energetic quality.

low rumble

Specifically describes a low-frequency, continuous sound.

distant murmur

Conveys a low, indistinct sound coming from afar.

ghost of a sound

Emphasizes the ephemeral and elusive quality of the sound.

FAQs

How to use "faintly heard" in a sentence?

"Faintly heard" is used to describe a sound that is barely audible or difficult to perceive. For example, "The distant sound of waves was "faintly heard" in the quiet of the night".

What can I say instead of "faintly heard"?

You can use alternatives like "barely audible", "softly audible", or "scarcely perceptible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "faintly heard" or "faintly hear"?

"Faintly heard" is generally used as a descriptive phrase, while "faintly hear" is a verb phrase indicating the act of hearing something faintly. Both are grammatically correct but have different usages.

What's the difference between "faintly heard" and "dimly heard"?

"Faintly heard" typically refers to the low volume or intensity of a sound, while "dimly heard" can also imply a lack of clarity or distinctness in the sound. The distinction is often subtle and depends on the specific context.