hum 1 of 2

noun

Definition of humnext
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

hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm How to pronounce hum (audio)
1
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to buzz
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound a helicopter hummed overhead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hum
Noun
Some people do their best thinking in a quieter setting, while others prefer a hum of activity around them. — Brendan Castle, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The workday may have been over on a recent September evening, but the free clinic on the outskirts of downtown was just beginning to hum. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Once the fabrics and jewelry started coming in from the Chanel Patrimoine, the old alchemy started humming. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026 After the team’s historic, championship-clinching summer, Thursday’s preseason matchup hummed with energy. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
  1. purr
  2. burst
  3. buzz
  4. whisper
  5. bulge
  6. zip
  7. rustle
  8. whir
Noun
  • Highlights and experiences It is always a special event stepping out of Venice’s airport onto a pontoon and a polished mahogany water taxi that drops you off canalside near your hotel, after a purr through the Grand Canal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of purr
Verb
  • So as much as Postava has burst onto the scene for the Red Wings, there is a real track record here.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Economists have spent much of 2026 watching to see if the artificial intelligence bubble will burst, much like the boom-and-burn cycle of dot-com pioneer companies in the late 1990s.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • On this cloudy Saturday morning in September, Cape Town's College of Magic is buzzing with energy as dozens of students are competing in the annual junior magic contest.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder and Oppenheim’s word-of-mouth sensation has taken pop culture by storm, earning millions at the box office, winning near-universal critical praise and generating a ton of press coverage, as well as Oscar buzz.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • Chiefly, engineers will need to design lightweight compressors that can capture and pressurize the whisper-thin Martian air.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Earlier in the week, the team said the 23-year-old NFL player had been dealing with a bulging disc in his back.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The fear of effeminization has never felt so acute, which presumably is why Matt Damon’s Odysseus needed bulging muscles, to ensure his sensitivity was mitigated by pecs of steel.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • Outside the old red-brick Victorian mansion, framed by palm trees, two teenage boys zip around the car park on unicycles.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • On fourth-and-4, Geno Smith completed a short pass to Isaiah Davis, who zipped downfield 41 yards to the Dolphins 18.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • Once reading time kicked off during a recent meetup, the only sounds from the group were the quiet rustle of pages turning and the conscientious nibbling of snacks and sipping of tea as the cafe continued its bustle.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The full textile experience, after all, is multisensory—visual, tactile, and sometimes auditory (think of taffeta’s distinctive rustle).
    — Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rustle
Verb
  • But there are plenty of other influences whirring away under the hood, too.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a quiet stillness in the harbor — the only sounds are of the occasional gull and car whirring by.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of whir

Browse Nearby Words

hulls
hum
human
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Cite this Entry

“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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