mumble

verb

mum·​ble ˈməm-bəl How to pronounce mumble (audio)
mumbled; mumbling ˈməm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce mumble (audio)

intransitive verb

: to utter words in a low confused indistinct manner : mutter

transitive verb

1
: to utter with a low inarticulate voice
2
: to chew or bite with or as if with toothless gums
mumble noun
mumbler noun
mumbly adjective

Examples of mumble in a Sentence

He mumbled something and then left. He mumbled “Goodbye” and then left. I can't understand you when you mumble.
Recent Examples on the Web This female victim, however, was being particularly combative, struggling to free her arms from the straps and mumbling incoherently. Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 30 July 2024 Advertisement Haddix mumbled her thanks and slammed her screen down. Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024 When mumbling their prayers over rosary beads, their tongues turned thick and foreign. Victor Lodato, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024 After a sleepy young man mumbled his comment, O’Rourke encouraged him to stand up straighter and speak louder, so that politicians would know his thoughts mattered. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for mumble 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mumble.' 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 momelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mumble was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mumble

Cite this Entry

“Mumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mumble. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

mumble

1 of 2 verb
mum·​ble
ˈməm-bəl
mumbled; mumbling
-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to speak softly and unclearly
2
: to eat with or as if with toothless gums
a baby mumbling its food
mumbler
-b(ə-)lər
noun
mumbly
-b(ə-)lē
adjective

mumble

2 of 2 noun
: speech that is not clear enough to be understood

More from Merriam-Webster on mumble

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