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

And in November, Puma shares popped up again, this time on rumblings that China’s sportswear firm Anta Sports could be eyeing the German athletic brand. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026

There have been rumblings that things could be turning for the better, particularly after Harry recently met with his father, King Charles. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Jan. 2026

Believe it or not, 2026 will be the year that those 2028 presidential rumblings start. —Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026

While the theory itself made sense amid rumblings that skinny jeans were making a comeback, cigarette and straight-leg styles remain the more dominant slim-fit options in 2025. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 30 Dec. 2025

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