humming 1 of 2

adjective

as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity the new science center is usually humming with school groups on Thursdays

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

humming

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hum
1
as in bursting
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 zipping
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 humming
Adjective
The Colts’ offense is absolutely humming. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
The offense has been humming with Williams under center, averaging 31 points per game in his three starts. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 Consider an administrative assistant who has spent a decade keeping a department humming along. — Eric Kutcher, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026 Once the fabrics and jewelry started coming in from the Chanel Patrimoine, the old alchemy started humming. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026 Filmed largely in natural daylight, the film drifts between still, unhurried, panning shots to evoke not only the spiritual energy that keeps the temples humming but also a world in slow, gradual decay. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026 So the investors, led by Hackman Capital Partners, Blackstone and Bain Capital, piled in to buy studio space, betting that the streaming boom and Wall Street’s collective shrug at profits would keep facilities humming. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 Plus, San Francisco is humming offensively, both in the pass and running the ball. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 The company thinks its fully reusable Starship megarocket will be humming along by then, taking care of all its spaceflight needs. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026 People don’t want huge, ugly, ominously humming industrial infrastructure in their backyard. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humming
  1. buzzing
  2. bursting
  3. zipping
  4. busy
  5. whispering
  6. thriving
  7. whirring
  8. vibrant
Adjective
  • All the joy and buzzing activity arose from humble beginnings.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Still, a supportive connection between the moon, Neptune and Pluto retrograde adds a deeper undercurrent to all the buzzing and socializing.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • And every few months, a bursting FedEx envelope from Baltimore would appear at my desk at PRH containing Professor Dixon’s typewritten chunks of new and unpublished writing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • People are herby, people are lemony, people are mustardy, bursting at the taste buds with umami.
    — Raven Smith, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of bursting
Verb
  • Between zipping around to market appointments and fashion weeks, shooting new campaigns, and booking it across the world for interviews and events, the fashion set knows its way around a travel accessory.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There were Zoom sessions and musicians cutting strings in Italy before crushing them into a file and zipping them across an ocean.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of zipping
Adjective
  • The best travel accessories are the ones that quietly earn a permanent spot in your carry-on, and Amazon’s outlet has some useful finds ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of busy
Verb
  • Testosterone replacement therapy prescriptions are climbing fast, and the men on them are no longer whispering about it.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Social media companies are hesitant to allow promotion on their platforms, and Hollywood is whispering that the tech mogul’s power might keep the public from opportunities to see the film.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of whispering
Adjective
  • Rather than a sudden surge, the new estimate shows the population has always been strong, thriving, and secure.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The result was a scramble to get on coveted allocation lists—and a thriving secondary market where the sky seemed to be the limit.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of thriving
Verb
  • 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
  • Lifestyle projectors have come a long way from the dim, whirring boxes that only really worked with the curtains drawn.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of whirring
Adjective
  • Its vibrant Emerald Check pattern extends from the base plate to the lid, which is topped with an ornamental glass knob that feels fit for royalty.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Much has been said about the end of quiet luxury—the vibrant menswear collections over the summer finally squashed that conversation entirely, actually.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrant

Browse Nearby Words

hummers
humming
hummock
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Cite this Entry

“Humming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humming. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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