as in purr
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
we heard the hum of an outboard motor and a few minutes later the small craft came into sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hum
Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr. 2025
The sun hums the rhythm, the moon sips the bassline.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2025
Yet many economists think that achieving this year’s 5% growth target — and keeping factories humming — will require trillions of yuan of fresh stimulus as Trump’s revenge tour arrives in Asia at the worst possible moment.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Corporate executives are not inclined to cross Trump, and market forces may be strong enough to keep the energy sector humming along mostly in line with expectations.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Verb
President Trump wants to lower those rates to keep the economy humming despite the slowdown his far-reaching tariffs threaten to trigger.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr. 2025
The sun hums the rhythm, the moon sips the bassline.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2025
Yet many economists think that achieving this year’s 5% growth target — and keeping factories humming — will require trillions of yuan of fresh stimulus as Trump’s revenge tour arrives in Asia at the worst possible moment.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Corporate executives are not inclined to cross Trump, and market forces may be strong enough to keep the energy sector humming along mostly in line with expectations.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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Bugatti/Jacob & Co. Where the Tourbillon V16 engine screams at 9,000 rpm, the Jacob and Co. miniature V16 purrs the seconds away with 16 tiny titanium pistons firing up and down inside a clear sapphire engine block.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Apr. 2025
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Saldana continues, as the kitties all purr in the background.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Sleight of Hand is a powerful, intense rye whiskey bursting with bold flavors reflecting Texas whiskey's power.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Summer isn’t officially here yet, but Amazon is already bursting with airy dresses for under $50.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The implication that Kanan himself could have killed his own mother has people buzzing.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
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Myth: Exposure to cicada noise will cause hearing loss As the second-largest periodical cicada, Brood XIV can make a lot of noise when the male cicadas attempt to attract mates with their buzzing sounds.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The days before the storied conclave May 7 at the Vatican are not idle, and an unspoken selection process is already underway amid whispers in corridors and cafes throughout Rome and other cities in Italy.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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There’s been whispers all season that if the Knicks lost in the first round that things wouldn’t be the same next year.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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No deals have been reached with America’s largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China, which is the single biggest contributor to the bulging U.S. trade deficit that Trump calls a rip-off for the American people.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2025
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Movies don't get more manly than Predator, which is positively brimming with bulging muscles, oneupmanship, relentless s— talk, chainguns, and some of Schwarzenegger's silliest one-liners since Commando.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Somehow, this shell also manages to be bizarrely soft on the skin with almost no rustle.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
15 Apr. 2025
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Any time a leaf rustles in the outfield, the AI picks it up.—
John Werner,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Long-time nemesis Brad Marchand scored the winner for the Panthers on a twisted wrister that banked off Rielly before zipping past goalie Joseph Woll.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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Christopher Gayton was just outside his South Jamaica home when a driver zipping east on Linden Blvd. slammed into him near 166th St. at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday and kept going, cops said.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As a three-hour program — Knight opened at 7 p.m. on the dot — Sunday’s show moved quickly, with a rotating stage that whirred to life after each woman’s set.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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The Orb’s cameras whirred for a minute, capturing my iris’s texture.—
Jason Henry,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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