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
Senior Reporter, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The droning hum of grasshoppers rubbing their legs across their wings and the splashing of a rushing stream often comprise the soundtrack that accompanies bird watchers.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Lost in our mind frequency, which hummed loud now like a drone.
—Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Noun
There is no shortage of horror stories, like a 24/7 hum coming from the buildings, keeping Virginia residents up at night, Business Insider reports, or when kitchen taps ran dry in Georgia after Meta built a facility nearby, The New York Times reports.
—Senior Reporter, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The droning hum of grasshoppers rubbing their legs across their wings and the splashing of a rushing stream often comprise the soundtrack that accompanies bird watchers.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Their offense is humming, ranking in the top 5 in scoring, and with key injuries on the Rams' offensive line, Indianapolis will look to exploit those gaps and disrupt Matthew Stafford's timing.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Lost in our mind frequency, which hummed loud now like a drone.
—Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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But the other people who live nearby may not be so easily swayed by those adorable puppy dog eyes or precious purrs and might get very irritated.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
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Best Dice Game For a purr-fectly good time with friends, roll the dice and let the games begin.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One of the most famous bubbles that burst was the 2000 dotcom crash where the value of internet companies plummeted.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
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Related Stories His latest is a blunt cinematic instrument — loud, loaded and bursting with carnage and ideological angst.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gardeners know pollinators are essential, especially those industrious bees buzzing tirelessly in and out of squash blossoms and trumpet vines.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
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Spaces to roam are flanked by a central courtyard restaurant that buzzes with diners who feast over The House’s signature lobster pasta, moquecas (Brazilian fish stew), and cassava gnocchi.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While an insider confirmed to Fox News Digital that there have been whispers of another woman, TMZ was first to report that the country star may already be involved with someone else.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Grzeda said the whisper PepsiCo detected in the early 2000s has become a roar, fueled by social media and growing consumer interest in ingredients.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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RAKxa Jai, meanwhile, focuses on holistic wellness, with teams of staff offering a bulging book of treatments, including crystal healing, traditional Ayurvedic treatments and Marma Healing massage.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The Saetbyol-4, which shares the Global Hawk's bulging fuselage design, is a reconnaissance aircraft while the Saetbyol-9, like the Reaper, is an attack drone.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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As Denver’s locker room echoes with the empty rustles of equipment staffers, Jahdae Barron lingers.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Marina Bay track layout is tight and twisty, leaving little room for error as the 20 drivers zip through the streets.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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After zipping his bag, Manchester started moving the crew to the cooler.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Part of the appeal of drones as hazing tools, however, is that the whirring sound of the rotors is already scary enough for most bears.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
25 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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