mumble

verb

mum·​ble ˈməm-bəl 

mumbled; mumbling ˈməm-b(ə-)liŋ 

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

ˈməm-b(ə-)lər 

noun

mumbly

ˈməm-b(ə-)lē 

adjective

Synonyms

• chunter [British]
• grunt
• mouth
• murmur
• mutter

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

Hutchinson had no final statement, according to the Associated Press, and appeared to mumble to himself as the procedure began. —James Powel, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Hutchinson had no last statement but appeared to be mumbling to himself as the procedure started just before 8 p.m. —CBS News, 1 May 2025

Nick asks him some questions, but the barely-conscious man only mumbles something about his dog. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Despite being a hearing aid specialist himself, Joe Gallagher spent three years convinced that his wife couldn’t stop mumbling. —Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English momelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing mumble

• mumble peg
• mumble-the-peg

Rhymes for mumble

• bumble
• crumble
• fumble
• grumble
• humble
• jumble
• rumble
• stumble
• tumble
• umbel

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