rumbled; rumbling
ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to make a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbling in the distance
2
: to travel with a low reverberating sound
wagons rumbled into town
3
: to speak in a low rolling tone
4
: to engage in a rumble
1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British
: to reveal or discover the true character of
1
a
: a low heavy continuous reverberating often muffled sound (as of thunder)
b
: low frequency noise in phonographic playback caused by the transmission of mechanical vibrations by the turntable to the pickup
2
: a seat for servants behind the body of a carriage
3
a
: widespread expression of dissatisfaction or unrest
b
: a street fight especially among gangs
Examples of rumble in a Sentence
Verb
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
The train rumbles through town twice a day.
We watched as the trucks rumbled past.
The gangs rumbled in the alley.
Noun
I was awakened by the rumble of a train passing by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Theo Johnson comes up with the ball and rumbles in for a 41-yard touchdown.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
This mobile bar crisscrosses the room’s checkerboard floor with the growling rumble of a subway train.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
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Verb
Iowa rumbled down the field in eight plays, capped by a Gronowski 4-yard touchdown run.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Theo Johnson comes up with the ball and rumbles in for a 41-yard touchdown.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
His voice is a rich baritone, like a rumble coming from deep inside a mountain.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
This mobile bar crisscrosses the room’s checkerboard floor with the growling rumble of a subway train.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
Cite this Entry
“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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