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 had been rumblings of discontent between the star and the front office for years when, in early 2021, Wilson went public with his frustrations at not being treated similarly to Tom Brady or other top-level quarterbacks who were instrumental in their franchise’s decision making. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

Ro’s Reitano sees the rumblings of a revolution, too. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026

There were no rumblings of a deal. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026

Fellow Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines started trans-Pacific flights in 2023, and while the carrier currently just serves Western hubs, there have been rumblings of its first East Coast routes coming soon. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 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