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
David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 31 May 2026
For anyone curious about how breathwork and cold exposure activate the same nervous system pathways, the bee hum and Wim Hof breathing are pointing at the same physiological target from very different directions.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Ventilators hummed in an intensive care unit.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Noun
This 1950s-era facility, one of five that turns out home appliances under familiar GE brands such as Hotpoint and Profile, is preparing to reclaim a manufacturing line that currently hums in China.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 31 May 2026
For anyone curious about how breathwork and cold exposure activate the same nervous system pathways, the bee hum and Wim Hof breathing are pointing at the same physiological target from very different directions.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Verb
The North Carolina mountains are home to a plethora of treasured towns including Asheville, Brevard, and Cashiers that are always humming with activity to celebrate the region.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Ventilators hummed in an intensive care unit.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
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That detail has led researchers to wonder whether the purr is partly a self-healing mechanism, a body soothing itself from the inside out.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The band whipping through Connecticut this week that really can’t be said to have burst from a large previously existing musical genre.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
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Nearly three decades after Lara first burst onto screens, Legacy of Atlantis aims to honor the spirit of the original adventure while expanding the character for modern audiences.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 June 2026
Verb
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In February, Axios reported that insiders were already buzzing with questions of a potential campaign following Krasner's third-term DA election and anti-Trump demeanor.—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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Two drones buzzed overhead, filming the players wearing the latest biotech on the pristine field below.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Look for alcohol-free, subtle formulas the goal is a whisper of fragrance, not a perfume cloud that announces itself from across the room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
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In biergartens, servers carry trays where alcohol‑free helles — a traditional pale lager — sits shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the classic stuff, no longer ordered with a whisper or judgment.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
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And, soon, the OCFA crew learns that one of three storage tanks at the plant — one that contains the chemical methyl methacrylate, or MMA — is bulging.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
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The top of my head had been level with the bulging briefcase the girl had tucked under her arm.—
Annie Ernaux,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Ohtani zipped it in at knee level, and Carroll drilled it into the ground, right to second baseman Alex Freeland.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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If the answer is no, then zip it — and count your blessings.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
Noun
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In a distant forest, the monument to his reckless fretwork rustles in the treetops and hums with beehives like the watts in a worn, weary amp burning, crackling for release.—
Tyehimba Jess,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cool blue-white LEDs lined the room’s windows, while yellow heavy-duty power outlets hung from the ceiling over rows of desks where students will learn how to maintain the servers whirring behind them.—
Mirtha Donastorg,
AJC.com,
26 May 2026
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Expect the line blender to keep whirring as the series goes on.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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