hum

verb

ˈhəm 

hummed; humming

intransitive verb

1

a

: to utter a sound like that of the speech sound \m\ prolonged

humming along with the music

b

: to make the natural noise of an insect in motion or a similar sound : drone

listening to the bees hum in the garden

c

: to give forth a low continuous blend of sound

… the sound of children's voices with which the house was always humming.

—J. M. Brinnin

2

a

: to be busily active

the museum hummed with visitors

b

: to run smoothly

the business started to hum

transitive verb

1

: to sing with the lips closed and without uttering speech sounds distinctly

hum a tune

2

: to express by making a vocal sound with the lips pressed together : to affect by humming

hummed his displeasure

hum noun

hummable

ˈhə-mə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of hum

• burst
• buzz
• bulge

Examples of hum in a Sentence

The garden was humming with bees.

The refrigerator hummed in the background.

I was humming to myself.

We hummed along to the music.

I hummed a little song.

By noon, the office was really humming.

The restaurant hums on weekends.

Recent Examples on the Web

That's what an increasing number of Americans are saying about data centers, huge, energy-sapping, constantly humming, resource-draining facilities needed to power artificial intelligence. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 June 2026

The event may not be about politics, but politics will be humming in the background regardless. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

The ball—true to Brown’s original design—is always humming around at high speed, finding the right man and confounding the defenses that the team’s sheer force keeps demoralizing. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

The pros at the front desk keep things humming; Club Level guests, meanwhile, can check in even faster in a dedicated lounge—or right in their suites. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hummen; akin to Middle High German hummen to hum, Middle Dutch hommel bumblebee

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for hum

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

Kids Definition

hum

verb

ˈhəm

hummed; humming

1

a

: to utter a continuous \m\ sound

b

: to make the natural buzzing sound of an insect in motion or a sound like it : drone

c

: to give forth a low continuous blend of sound

2

: to produce musical tones while keeping the lips closed

3

: to be busily active

the place was humming

hum noun

hummer noun

Medical Definition

hum

noun

ˈhəm 

: a sound like that made by humming

especially : venous hum