Synonyms of humming

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• busy
• thriving
• vibrant
• lively
• crowded
• brisk
• bustling
• populous
• abuzz
• rousing
• stirring
• animated
• flourishing
• alive
• happening
• hopping
• kinetic
• astir
• abubble
• aboil
• swarming
• overflowing
• teeming
• thronging
• abounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• sleepy
• inactive
• lifeless
• asleep

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• bursting
• bulging
• brimming
• teeming
• swarming
• crawling
• bustling
• bristling
• overflowing
• abounding
• pullulating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lacking
• wanting
• needing

2

as in zipping

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

a helicopter hummed overhead

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• zipping
• whispering
• whirring
• hissing
• droning
• whistling
• whizzing
• murmuring
• sighing
• zooming
• burring
• purring
• thrumming
• whishing
• bumbling
• chirring
• cooing
• rustling
• churring
• wheezing
• swishing
• fizzing
• sizzling
• whooshing
• curring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of humming

Adjective

The Colts’ offense is absolutely humming. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025

Verb

Meanwhile, this column just keeps humming along day after day. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The sounds of generators humming and chain saws whirling filled the neighborhood Thursday afternoon. — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Seemingly hampered by a back injury earlier this season, Clark appears to be humming, now putting up historic numbers and career-high marks. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Dreamy interludes pad the space between tracks with humming synths and strings; sometimes songs dissolve into floating mood pieces, anchored by a drone or loop. — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026

The insects protect their queen, collecting in a roiling, humming mass on his hand. — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2026

Director and co-screenwriter Cal Brunker keeps the 90-minute movie humming along at a fast clip, and even includes a Tough Mudder-like flashback of Marshall trying to clear a wall during his rescue training. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

On the other hand, it has also been credited for keeping the US economy humming, as wealthier Americans keep spending and businesses keep hiring. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

At the center of the effort was sixth-year linebacker Nick Bolton, the quarterback of the unit, who focused on galvanizing the troops to create havoc and slow down an offense that had been humming earlier in the frame. — Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026