mum

1 of 5

adjective

ˈməm 

: silent

keep mum

mum

2 of 5

verb

mummed; mumming

intransitive verb

1

: to perform in a pantomime

2

: to go about merrymaking in disguise during festivals

mum

3 of 5

noun (1)

: a strong ale or beer

mum

4 of 5

chiefly British spelling of mom

mum

5 of 5

noun

: chrysanthemum

Synonyms of mum

Adjective

• speechless
• silent
• mute
• muted

Examples of mum in a Sentence

Adjective

I'd like to know how much they paid, but they've been mum on that subject.

kept mum about the surprise bridal shower

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As for interior, the yard was mum on those details for now, at least. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026

The Lions have been mum about a knee injury that forced him to miss 11 games last season. — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Verb

So did mum and dad politely decline to go or were they not invited? — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025

In the past, many business leaders have stayed out of the fray and publicly mum about their own political beliefs. — Bybrit Morse, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

Author Andy Weir has remained mum on chances of a sequel, saying his next book is a standalone novel. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Corden’s mum and dad are also in attendance for the show, and both take part in the final segment, which recreates a moment from the day’s events. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English mom, momme, probably imitative of a sound made with closed lips

Verb

Middle English mommen, to mumble, perform (a mummer's play), probably in part from mom, in part from Middle French momer to go masked

Noun (1)

German Mumme

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mum

• keep/stay mum
• mum's the word

Rhymes for mum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

mum

1 of 3 adjective

ˈməm 

: silent sense 1

keep mum

mum

2 of 3 noun

: chrysanthemum

mum

3 of 3

chiefly British variant of mom