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
Tour the Town Founded in 1837, alongside its namesake Presbyterian school, Davidson’s heart lies in its picturesque downtown, which sits just a block from the hum of collegiate life. — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Verb
The town's only hospital hummed with ambulances, burial teams and a steady stream of patients. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 July 2026 By contrast, the three data centers coming to Miami-Dade are much smaller, requiring less energy to keep the computers humming all day and less water to circulate and keep the computers cool. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 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
  • 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
  • His emotions — and that sticky goo in his wrists — are about to burst.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Along the narrow hallway, bookshelves burst with first editions of John Updike, battered Stephen Kings, graphic novels, dime-store paperbacks, board games, books about mythology, children’s fairy tales, and Warhammer rule sets.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • The Maumelle All About Community Facebook group had been buzzing over the presence of Steph Curry.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The crowd started to buzz as Randy Orton came through and got into the ring.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • More artwork with the Delizia al Limona, sponge cake soaked in limoncello with lemon cream and a whisper-thin, bright yellow lemon fondant.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Absolutely’s groundedness can, in part, be credited to the journey of creating her second studio album, Paracosm, a dark-leaning, 13-track record that features self-examining lyrics and dynamic vocals, ranging from airy whispers to soaring belts.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • As the compressed sides bulge outward under load, the tower’s structural strength drops sharply, frequently triggering sudden buckling or catastrophic collapse.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
  • Okegbe recommends immediately discarding any can that’s bulging, leaking, heavily rusted, or dented.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • But even with a marathon three-hour runtime and approximately 1 bazillion cameos, Endgame is remarkably light on its feet, zipping throughout time for a story that not only pays tribute to the films that came before but casts them in a new light.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike a conventional ball machine, even one that can move around the court, this robot coach is designed to behave more like a human opponent – zipping across the court to reach your return shot, then firing a ball back to you.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • All were filled with Chenier’s murmuring accordion, the rustle of a washboard player and slinky grooves.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of rustle
Verb
  • Well, for one thing, the NFL machine will begin to whir next week.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Angela George The voting machines are whirring at a clip, which in turn makes the pace of the afternoon feel fast.
    — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 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 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hum

Nglish: Translation of hum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hum

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