hum 1 of 2

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

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hum

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty

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2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hum
Noun
And as the industry evolves, don't be surprised if the quiet hum of panels comes with the occasional baaa. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2025 The low, guttural hum of boos rang as the sense of forlornness was consuming. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
The porch smells faintly of lime and ginger, and the house hums the way houses do when a good conversation has just ended. Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 For decades, the profession has been stereotyped as a world of calculators and spreadsheets, quietly humming in the background of business. Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
  • Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Fluffy robot pets that purr for your attention or tell you a joke.
    Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the Enchanted glittered with edible pink shimmer dust, and bursting with fruity, botanical flavors – Grey Goose with watermelon basil essences, vermouth and basil.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The streaming bubble burst eight months before Willow’s premiere, so the move was part of a much larger cost-saving initiative.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Continue reading … HOT AT COSTCO – September offerings at popular store have fans buzzing.
    , FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Guy didn’t overlap, guy didn’t buzz, guy didn’t carry three.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The result was a ghostly, otherworldly sound that could shift from whispers to booming calls depending on the breath.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The results cast doubt on whether the plumes truly carry whispers of alien life, or merely echoes of lifeless chemistry on the frozen shell.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • De Meo has been tasked with engineering a speedy turnaround for Kering, which has been dragged down by steep declines at its star brand Gucci and a bulging debt load.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • To be a real man, according to this content, young adolescent boys are expected to be tall and broad-shouldered with bulging biceps, pronounced trapezius muscles, and washboard abs.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • High in the hills near the Myanmar border, Ban Rak Thai greets the morning with the smell of oolong and the soft rustle of tea leaves.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • As Denver’s locker room echoes with the empty rustles of equipment staffers, Jahdae Barron lingers.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Commissioner David Suarez, named as a defendant in the lawsuit, made a brief appearance at Wednesday’s press conference, zipping in front of reporters on an electric scooter.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Rent a golf cart or e-bike to zip around the resort.
    Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For Catalans, the whirring activity at the Sagrada Família has become a symbol of their can-do culture.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Every evening, Hofstadter would leave his calculator whirring.
    Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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