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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hum
Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
The series, which stars Hall (Resurrection, Christine) as a popular English teacher who suddenly begins to hear a persistent low hum that no-one else can hear, runs to five parts.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
And with Croix Bethune pulling the strings as a tempo-setter and central creator, the Current’s offense is finally humming the right tune.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Noun
One step inside, the hum of traffic and nightlife faded.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
The series, which stars Hall (Resurrection, Christine) as a popular English teacher who suddenly begins to hear a persistent low hum that no-one else can hear, runs to five parts.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Verb
Exhaust fans exist in most household bathrooms but go largely unnoticed, save for their universally familiar humming sound.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
And with Croix Bethune pulling the strings as a tempo-setter and central creator, the Current’s offense is finally humming the right tune.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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Unlike at Shadden’s, the only mechanical purr is the brief rumble of a passing car.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
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In its megacities and beyond, traffic is increasingly falling silent, the dull whir of the electric motor replacing the purr of an internal combustion engine.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Researchers believe huge quantities of groundwater likely burst onto the surface in a series of catastrophic floods that surged downhill and rapidly carved the waterworn valleys visible today.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
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But Donald used that size mismatch to his advantage, leveraging an unprecedented first step and incredible agility to burst past linemen and attack the offense.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
Verb
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If outdoor dining is being ruined by buzzing pests, the Gootop bug zapper may be the easiest way to reclaim your outdoor space (and your cheeseburger)!—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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Though Madden’s extension type has yet to be confirmed, the wider beauty world has been buzzing about K-tips, otherwise known as Keratin tips.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Noun
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News reports would later surface that Keenan was negotiating with the Detroit Red Wings during the Rangers’ playoff run, but Olczyk and many of his teammates had already heard whispers.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Grande sings that lyric in a low tone, not quite a whisper, but something just as fragile and out of breath.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
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But if the gland expands or droops, which is common with age, a portion of it can escape those confines, bulging out below the jawbone and appearing as a lump in the neck.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Rectangular fast-moving carts won’t inconvenience you by telling you to move out of the way and zipping past.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
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Not to mention, your toiletry bag ends up far less chaotic and actually zips without a fight.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Noun
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In a distant forest, the monument to his reckless fretwork rustles in the treetops and hums with beehives like the watts in a worn, weary amp burning, crackling for release.—
Tyehimba Jess,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most of us turn to mechanical fixes—air conditioners humming, ceiling fans whirring at full tilt.—
Nolan Lewis,
Architectural Digest,
27 Apr. 2026
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Shadows and strange sounds can set imaginations whirring—from the guttural roar of a hunting lion to the giggling calls of a feasting hyena pack.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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