rumbling

noun

rum·​bling ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: rumble

2

: general but unofficial talk or opinion often of dissatisfaction

—usually used in plural

… rumblings of political trouble …

—Anthony Burgess

Examples of rumbling in a Sentence

There were rumblings about rising prices.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are also rumblings that Alcaraz will play in the Mixed Doubles event next week, possibly with 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

There are now industry rumblings that Netflix will join the Super Bowl rotation in 2029. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Clearly, the early rumblings of spygate, yet to be felt fully, had some effect as Southampton struggled to get into Middlesbrough territory. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Details of who had prompted the leadership rumblings at first remained a mystery. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rumbling

• bumbling
• crumbling
• fumbling
• grumbling
• humbling
• mumbling
• stumbling
• tumbling