purr

1 of 2

noun

ˈpər 

: a low vibratory murmur typical of an apparently contented or pleased cat

purr

2 of 2

verb

purred; purring; purrs

intransitive verb

1

: to make a purr or a sound like a purr

cars purring along the highway

2

a

: to speak in a manner that resembles a purr

b

: to speak in a malicious catty manner

purringly

ˈpər-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of purr

Noun

• hum
• whisper

Examples of purr in a Sentence

Noun

the soft purr of a car engine

listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine

Verb

The cat was purring contentedly in my lap.

The cars were purring along the highway.

“You look tense. Let me buy you a drink,” he purred.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

In the mid-1970s, Slash’s mother, the costume designer Ola Hudson, worked on the American production of The Rocky Horror Show, whose Frank-N-Furter is the unmistakable touchstone of Bourzgui’s David, down to the depraved purr. — Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

Though Sex and the City ended two entire decades ago, many of her most valuable life lessons—usually delivered via purring, zingy one-liners, either with a dirty martini in one hand or while waving a fork over brunch—feel just as relevant today. — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2026

The midfield, which had been the team’s strength, its purring engine, was disorganized. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for purr

• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur
• er
• fir
• fur
• furr
• gurr
• her
• murr
• myrrh

Kids Definition

purr

noun

ˈpər

: a low murmuring sound of a contented cat

purr verb