babbling

1 of 2

noun

bab·​bling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: idle, foolish, or nonsensical talk or chatter

… the … remarks would have been nothing short of treason, if they had not been so obviously the mere babblings of an irresponsible lunatic.

—P. G. Wodehouse

2

: the production of meaningless strings of speech sounds by infants

Babbling usually coincides with the beginning of one-handed reaching and rhythmic hand activity.

—M. R. Hiller

babbling

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: talking idly or foolishly

a babbling drunk

b

: producing meaningless speech sounds

a babbling baby

2

: producing a quiet, continuous sound (such as the sound of flowing water)

a babbling brook

Examples of babbling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Eichenberger recently converted one of the ponds into a small babbling brook to maintain a steady flow of water. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026

Many letters slam our new Muslim mayor and now a sprinkle of right-wing, pseudo-Christian babbling? —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026

Adjective

The Mad Monarch of Mar-a-Lago is ridiculed worldwide as the babbling fool and face of Satan whose venom is deadly and far-reaching. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026

Her laughter was said to sound like a babbling brook. —Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

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

Rhymes for babbling

• dabbling
• scrabbling