murmur

noun

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mur·mur | \ ˈmər-mər

Definition of murmur

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a half-suppressed or muttered complaint : grumbling murmurs of disapproval

2a : a low indistinct but often continuous sound a murmur of voices the murmur of the waves along the shore

b : a soft or gentle utterance the murmur of nannies cooing into baby carriages— Nancy Gibbs

3 : an atypical sound of the heart typically indicating a functional or structural abnormality The physician detected a heart murmur in his patient.

murmur

verb

murmured; murmuring; murmurs

Definition of murmur (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to make a murmur the breeze murmured in the pines

2 : complain, grumble

transitive verb

: to say in a murmur

Other Words from murmur Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About murmur

Examples of murmur in a Sentence

Noun the murmur of the crowd The suggestion brought murmurs of disapproval. He spoke in a murmur. They spoke to each other in murmurs. the murmur of the waves along the shore Verb He murmured something about having to get home. “Thank you,” she murmured as she left the room. The breeze murmured in the pines.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Add in a solid ANC chip and any environmental noises will be reduced to a slight murmur. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2022 Rogers Stirk’s late arrival steps up to its mark, completing the scene with a confident murmur. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2021 Buzzing with that momentum, Roosevelt shocked the Garfield crowd into a dull murmur in the first half as the Rough Riders rung up a 22-0 lead. — Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2021 Usually when the lights go down in a Broadway house, a few minutes after 8 p.m., there’s a sort of excited quiet murmur, an exhalation as everyone sits up and prepares to take in the show. — Christopher Bonanos, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2021 Spending increases can be celebrated as humane attempts to support social justice without raising a murmur from the electorate. — Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 3 Oct. 2021 That comment drew an even more enthusiastic murmur. — Don Yaeger, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021 There was a murmur in the room as people returned to their tables. — David Treuer, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 But Josie Burko suffered from severe diabetes, a heart murmur and chronic bronchitis and worried her body would react badly. — oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb While the first responders do their work, the onlookers murmur. — BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2021 Like a Disney movie on acid, teapots and cutlery begin to murmur, scream and dictate to him; a beloved antique spoon laments its many losses. — Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2021 With Drew Brees out for a while, some talking heads are starting to murmur about the Bucs being the best team in the conference. — Mark Craig, Star Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020 When Billy is strung up on a yardarm, the sailors murmur their discontent; a display of martial discipline staves off any threat of mutiny. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2020 Knowing my insatiable sweet tooth, my mom would murmur a few words to our waitress, who’d bustle over with plastic drink cups, spoons stuck through the lids. — Sovi Wellons, Bon Appétit, 12 Aug. 2020 Some murmur about sharing the cost among a group of friends who all work for different employers — a haphazard coworking space during times when coworking should be dead. — Brittany Meiling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2020 By the time the third inning is over and the A’s have no hits, the crowd is starting to murmur. — Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 27 June 2020 On a recent day Lein stood in one of her barns as a contented chorus of 9,400 chickens clucked and murmured. — Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'murmur.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.