rumble

1 of 2

verb

rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl 

rumbled; rumbling ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make a low heavy rolling sound or series of sounds

thunder rumbling in the distance

My stomach was rumbling.

2

: to travel with a low reverberating sound

wagons rumbled into town

3

: to speak in a low rolling tone

4

US, informal + old-fashioned : to fight especially in the street

transitive verb

1

: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice

"That is a sure prophecy," rumbled a deep voice.

—Rudyard Kipling

2

British : to reveal or discover the true character of

… had long ago rumbled her … excuses.

—Zadie Smith

rumbler

ˈrəm-b(ə-)lər 

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

US, informal + old-fashioned : a street fight especially among gangs

Synonyms of rumble

Verb

• growl
• grumble

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

Verb

At the once-swank Primrose Hotel, Russian refugees recline on the porch, playing pinochle, watching the night traffic of Collins Avenue rumble down South Beach. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

No procession of tanks, no towering intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), no hypersonic glide vehicles, no transporter-erector-launchers rumbling past the cameras. —Will Ripley, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026

Noun

Still, when my plane’s turn came, the takeoff was as exhilarating as ever—the low rumble and rising thrum, the smooth detachment and sudden lift, and then the surge through clouds into a piercing blue sky. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

The soggy conditions will be around all through the end of the week, with some rumbles of thunder also possible for Friday and Saturday when our highs get to the 70s! —Mary Ours, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing rumble

• rumble on
• rumble seat
• rumble strip

Rhymes for rumble

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

Kids Definition

rumble

1 of 2 verb

rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl 

rumbled; rumbling -b(ə-)liŋ 

: 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