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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hum
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
The vibration is slow and deep, with users describing it as a hum that spreads through muscle tissue.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Ciara Lucas, SELF, 4 Apr. 2026
Sewing machines hummed, scissors snipped, patterns stretched across the tables.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Noun
At the river separating Oiapoque from French Guiana, a small port hums with boats linking Brazil, its neighbor and nearby communities.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
The vibration is slow and deep, with users describing it as a hum that spreads through muscle tissue.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
The desert air in Phoenix, Arizona hums a little louder during NCAA Women’s Final Four weekend.
—Ciara Lucas, SELF, 4 Apr. 2026
Sewing machines hummed, scissors snipped, patterns stretched across the tables.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
-
The production wears its metaphors lightly with a wink and a purr.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
On most days, the surf is loud enough to mask the steady purr of cars.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rico, his wife Michele and daughter Mia burst from their chairs and cheer as Domino flexes his arms, each sleeved in tattoos of dominoes, palm trees and a Cuban cafetera with biceps.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The crypto world has been buzzing in recent months about the potential for applying blockchain technology to agentic commerce, a term that describes AI agents undertaking purchases or other economic activity on a user’s behalf.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
An alarm that chimes instead of buzzes.—
Stephen Watson,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The tart’s crust was barely there, just a buttery whisper under the fruit.—
Michelle Huneven,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The World Bank’s climate strategy, which sets a climate lending target of 45%, expires in June, but discussions on a new plan are being relegated to whispers in corridors, The Guardian reports.—
Chloé Farand,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But a fair number of Mudryk’s attempts end up bulging the roof of the net with power and precision, and very few are saved.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Tar Heel pipeline isn’t exactly bulging with the kind of coach the UNC job could attract.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now Picard is zipping around the cosmos again, The Lord of the Rings is waylaid with prequels and spin-offs, and somehow, Palpatine returned.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But Dallas answered a short time later, with Colin Blackwell making a nice move to elude Wild defenseman Brock Faber, then zipping a shot to cut Minnesota’s lead to one.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Snowy and great egrets swoop across the water, and a gentle breeze rustles the golden-hued marsh grass this region is said to be named for.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Surely, Bobby Jones must be spinning like a rotisserie chicken in his final resting place, and while the co-founder of the stately club lies some 143 miles to the east of Amen Corner, the patrons should be able to pick up on the whirring noises if the wind’s blowing the right way.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Culinary team member Nancy Eisman suggested whirring them into pesto.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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