HUM Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

hum 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hum

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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hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm

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

as in to buzz

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

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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

The engine delivers a deep, purposeful hum rather than an all-out howl as the gears disappear in quick succession. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 From the sparkle of the morning sun to the hum of a bumblebee to the bright sweetness of lemonade, yellow is definitely a summer color. — Holly Lebowitz Rossi, Parents, 2 July 2026

Verb

Project Bluestem Data centers emit humming sounds from generators, fans and other equipment. — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 Experiments were running, discoveries being made, and conferences hummed with new ideas. — Florencia Canelli, Scientific American, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum

Noun

Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
But a growing body of research suggests some of the most therapeutic sounds on earth are already in your home — your cat’s purr, rain on the window, birdsong outside.

— Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026

Definition of purr

Verb

However, the extravagant nature of such spending appears to be a bubble that has now burst, especially given the obvious failure to build a domestic talent pool.

— Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
When fire crews arrived on scene, the fire had consumed multiple rooms and had burst through the roof of one of the three hotel buildings.

— Bryce Buyakie, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of burst

Verb

As the influence of the Daoism of Celestial Masters spread, Zhang Daoling would also come to be seen as a powerful deity in his own right, often depicted with bulging eyes and wearing a red robe, accompanied by a tiger.

— Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
That ball found the head of Jude Bellingham, whose diving header bulged the net and opened the scoring.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of bulge

Verb

His friends could zip to one another’s houses, the neighborhood pool, Lowe’s Foods or the golf course — places that could feel much farther away on a regular bike.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.

— Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Definition of zip

Browse Nearby Words

hulls

hum

human

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“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hum

noun

verb

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