purr

1 of 2

noun

: a low vibratory murmur typical of an apparently contented or pleased cat

purr

2 of 2

verb

purred; purring; purrs

intransitive verb

1
: to make a purr or a sound like a purr
cars purring along the highway
2
a
: to speak in a manner that resembles a purr
b
: to speak in a malicious catty manner
purringly adverb

Examples of purr in a Sentence

Noun the soft purr of a car engine listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine Verb The cat was purring contentedly in my lap. The cars were purring along the highway. “You look tense. Let me buy you a drink,” he purred.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The duo quickly became inseparable, with footage capturing their adorable cuddles and Marble's soothing purrs as William clings to Marble's soft fur. Seth Carnell, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 Yes, the peppy little inline-five diesel purrs to life easily on the first crank. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 But take us back to Joséphine’s drawing room, where dom-versus-dom dynamics result in a showdown that could have filled several seasons of reality TV, with Kirby’s purr often carrying the day. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023 Jones, whose vivacious voice features distinct and succulent hints of gravel, carries the power to roar like a lion or purr like a kitten. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 Here, Moroney eschews any attempt to replicate Stapleton’s penchant for full-throated angst, but rather wraps her elegant voice, all purr and scratch, around the lyric, drawing out more sadness and resignation than agony. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Jan. 2024 Their cat might welcome them with loud purrs and excited floor rolls. Alisa Bowman, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Why cats purr remains a matter of considerable debate. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023 Cats can be mysterious creatures to begin with, but their ability to purr has long perplexed scientists. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023
Verb
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, December 2003 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Wrapped in ocean-blue Balenciaga couture, Alice perched on the mantel, longing to escape into the shadow world, as her black kitty purred nearby. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 This well-mannered cat has a sweet disposition and regularly shows her joy by purring like a little machine. The Arizona Republic, 9 Feb. 2024 At the beginning, eruptive full-ensemble gestures give way to a gently purring harp figure and to snappy rhythms on agogô bells. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Mama cats typically purr when nursing, for example, perhaps to reassure their tiny offspring, and while in labor. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023 For one thing, both places were crawling with cats, turning a high-concept livestream from Marvel Entertainment into a chaotic scene of tumbling, jumping, eating, purring felines that just might have been extraterrestrials in disguise (a.k.a. Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2024 Jennifer Ouellette There are few things more gratifying to cat lovers than a contentedly purring feline. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023 The authors of the new study suggest that purring instead results from the laryngeal pads of cats. Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023 The researchers were able to elicit the low-frequency phonation characteristic of purring without neural stimulation. Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purr.' 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

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purr was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near purr

Cite this Entry

“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purr. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

purr

noun
ˈpər
: a low murmuring sound of a contented cat
purr verb

More from Merriam-Webster on purr

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