rumble

1 of 2

verb

rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl How to pronounce rumble (audio)
rumbled; rumbling ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rumble (audio)

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British : to reveal or discover the true character of
rumbler noun

rumble

2 of 2

noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
But for a 336-pound player to block a kick attempt, recover the ball and rumble 61 yards for a touchdown? Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Lloyd picked off a Patrick Mahomes pass and rumbled the other way for a touchdown that may have been the biggest difference in the contest that had featured multiple game-changing plays. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
This mobile bar crisscrosses the room’s checkerboard floor with the growling rumble of a subway train. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025 Waves of noise were coming from every which way, the low rumble of conversation broken by the higher pitched sounds of laughter and pint glasses. Sarah Chamberlain, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rumble

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle High German rummeln to rumble

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rumble was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rumble

1 of 2 verb
rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl How to pronounce rumble (audio)
rumbled; rumbling -b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rumble (audio)
: to make or move with a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbled in the distance

rumble

2 of 2 noun
: a low heavy rolling sound

More from Merriam-Webster on rumble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!