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
Jane Marsching, swathed in a deep-blue apron printed with white leaves, hums beneath a linden tree. — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026 The spa Floating above the turquoise waters, the spa is made up of a reception and five different treatment huts—each one soundtracked by the hum of the ocean. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 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
  • Brand did arrive at court with a Holy Bible bursting with index tabs.
    — Luke Jones, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • One of the world’s largest circular fashion ecosystems, Kantamanto Market is a vibrant tangle of upcyclers, secondhand retailers, and other market traders, bursting with creativity.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • Olivia’s terrible sub-freeway apartment is also right above some guy running video-game servers, which make Olivia’s floor buzz all day.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Three flies buzzed around clean mixer containers under the front counter handwash sink.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • There are whispers of a speakeasy opening downstairs in the coming months, which gives the restaurant extra potential to become a go-to dinner spot that seamlessly transitions into a night out.
    — Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There’s an initial burst of salt and crunch, then a rolling thunder of jerk spice, spiked with the vibrant, herbal freshness of Caribbean green seasoning and a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • But on my face is my stupid sleep mask, with the bumps bulging out over the eyes.
    — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 29 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Someone’s whirring spices in a grinder on a shelf next to the cooler of bottled water and sodas.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Lungs whirred about the room in an electric wheelchair festooned in feather boas and Christmas lights, studiously avoiding serious questions about whether his conveyance was a tasteless prop or a medical necessity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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