babble

verb

bab·​ble ˈba-bəl How to pronounce babble (audio)
babbled; babbling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce babble (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to talk enthusiastically or excessively
b
: to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds
2
: to make sounds as though babbling

transitive verb

1
: to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner
2
: to reveal by talk that is too free
babble noun
babblement noun
babbler noun

Examples of babble in a Sentence

Pay no attention to her. She's just babbling. He'll babble on about sports all night if you let him. Her cousins were babbling in an unfamiliar dialect.
Recent Examples on the Web My son, Birdie, is babbling, crawling, grinning at me with a sparkle in his eye and giving me slobbery kisses all day every day. Lucille Sherman, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024 In another video, the family of four could be seen taking a ride in a golf cart filled with beach day supplies as Jupiter excitedly babbled in the background. Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 Tucked away in the trees along the Oak Leaf Trail near the border of Milwaukee and Shorewood, Hubbard Park Lodge sits among the trees with the Milwaukee River babbling just beneath it. Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2024 In another video, the family of four can be seen taking a ride in a golf cart filled with beach day supplies as Jupiter excitedly babbles in the background. Emma Aerin Becker, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for babble 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'babble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English babelen, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of babble was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near babble

Cite this Entry

“Babble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/babble. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

babble

1 of 2 verb
bab·​ble
ˈbab-əl
babbled; babbling
ˈbab-(ə-)liŋ
1
a
: to make meaningless sounds
b
: to talk foolishly or too much
2
: to make the sound of a brook
babbler
ˈbab-(ə-)lər
noun

babble

2 of 2 noun
1
: talk that is not clear
2
: the sound of a brook

More from Merriam-Webster on babble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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