Synonyms of hum

hum 1 of 2

noun

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

• purr
• buzz
• whisper
• rustle
• whir
• drone
• thrum
• sigh
• murmur
• moan
• zoom
• chirr
• whiz
• churr
• gasp
• burr
• gurgle
• hiss
• babble
• coo
• susurration
• susurrus
• zip
• zing
• suspiration
• whish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roar
• scream
• shriek
• yell
• screech
• squeal
• howl
• squall
• yelp
• bawl

hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm 

1

as in to burst

to be copiously supplied

one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burst
• buzz
• bulge
• teem
• swarm
• abound
• crawl
• brim
• bustle
• overflow
• bristle
• pullulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• need
• want
• lack

2

as in to buzz

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound

a helicopter hummed overhead

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzz
• whisper
• zip
• whir
• hiss
• burr
• murmur
• drone
• whistle
• sigh
• whiz
• zoom
• purr
• bumble
• whish
• thrum
• chirr
• coo
• rustle
• churr
• fizz
• whoosh
• swish
• wheeze
• sizzle
• curr

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hum

Noun

Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

The background hum comes from X-ray emissions detected by Chandra. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 4 July 2026

Verb

The show has turned into a case-of-the-season procedural with the alien stuff humming in the background as the overarching mythology. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2026

Construction has hummed along at the store site, and the warehouse has started to take shape in recent weeks. — Nathan Pilling july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026