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
Natalie Guerrero
july 28, Literary Hub, 28 July 2025
Before us, Lake Geneva stretched like liquid silver, the town of Montreux below humming faintly with the sounds of the Jazz Festival.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Beauticians and stylists may not hum, sing, or whistle while working.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
Back on Hoen Avenue in Santa Rosa, traffic still hums past the curve just before Cypress Way — the same stretch where Kellie Michelle’s life ended before the sun came up.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Verb
The place where my embarrassment typically sat in my body was replaced with a quiet humming feeling, a relief, a full-body homecoming.
—Natalie Guerrero
july 28, Literary Hub, 28 July 2025
Before us, Lake Geneva stretched like liquid silver, the town of Montreux below humming faintly with the sounds of the Jazz Festival.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Beauticians and stylists may not hum, sing, or whistle while working.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
Back on Hoen Avenue in Santa Rosa, traffic still hums past the curve just before Cypress Way — the same stretch where Kellie Michelle’s life ended before the sun came up.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
-
Fluffy robot pets that purr for your attention or tell you a joke.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
And yes, the dogs bark, quietly, and the cats purr.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Berries—and raspberries in particular—are another food that’s bursting with fiber.—
Audrey Bruno,
SELF,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Perabo burst onto the scene as wannabe singer Violet Sanford, who moves from New Jersey to N.Y.C. to pursue her dreams — and ends up joining the Coyote Ugly crew.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The new shoes have an early discount that brings their price down to as little as $50, and they’re already getting buzz from shoppers.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Alternately — extending this metaphor another way — talking to him while activity at Kojima Productions buzzes in the background over a video interview suggests having a peek inside a spy agency.—
Nick Newman,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Retail therapy glints at Luxury Plaza: think OMEGA watches, fine jewellery, and a whisper of indulgence.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers.—
Alessandra Schade,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The adjustable straps provide a true-to-size fit and the sheer lace won’t bulge through tight clothing.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
4 Aug. 2025
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Both can affect your quality of life: Atherosclerosis can cause heart attacks, strokes, poor blood flow to the legs, or bulging arteries.—
Alexandria Nyembwe,
Health,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
There’s the rustle of tea leaves and paper as first one, then another spoonful of tea leaves is taken from a paper bag and poured into the teapot, then the sound of water being poured over the tea leaves, but such sounds can only be heard in the kitchen.—
Katie Yee
July 25,
Literary Hub,
25 July 2025
-
When that harmony hits, the sale becomes a symphony: the crack of the register, the rustle of the bag, the quiet thrill of being chosen.—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
After top receiver Courtland Sutton dropped a dime from Nix on a fade route in Saturday’s preseason game, the two re-lit their connection Wednesday, with Nix scrambling to his right in one red-zone period and zipping a ball past a diving Ja’Quan McMillian to Sutton in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
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After the stop in Chicago, the Tigers zip northwest to Minneapolis to face the Twins (who took two of three in Detroit last week) for the final four games of the season series on Aug. 14-17.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Helicopters whirred overhead throughout the weekend as Anaconda residents adjusted to daily life after the shooting.—
Hannah Schoenbaum,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
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Electric forklifts whirred and precisely stacked rice weighing 44,080 pounds into neat rows to be lifted into a barge’s deep depths.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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