as in purrs
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
1
2
as in zips
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
a helicopter hummed overhead
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Recent Examples of hums
Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The musical prose hums with different accents, most evidently with Milena’s quips in French and Enzo’s Levantine lilt.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Torpön hums with activity in the summer — kayaking, paddleboarding, boating — but winters are long and quiet, the island more or less deserted.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
The mountain hums with energy, but never chaos.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
In the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Felipe’s Heladería hums with a nostalgic rhythm—whirring blenders, clinking spoons, and that telltale chorus of people debating toppings.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The set hums with energy—fans roaring, camera shutters firing, stylists darting in to adjust a trench coat or brush bronzer on her cheeks—yet Vonn remains composed, fully in control.
—Sierra Shafer, Outside, 18 Nov. 2025
Better yet, the historic Main Street hums with après-ski energy, cozy cocktail bars, and fireside dining.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s rooftop bars deliver a heady blend of skyline drama and cocktail craft—Starlite brings its storied perch back to life with Art Deco shimmer and late‑night DJ sets, while Cavaña hums with Latin spirits and sweeping Bay Bridge views.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Best Time To Visit The best time to visit Delray Beach is from late April through early June, when the city still hums with energy but sheds the intensity of peak season.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Jaipur is joyful, loud and full of stories — a city that hums with color, history, and life.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Miami hums as a warm-weather clearing house for Latin American taste and capital, part art fair, part duty-free fever dream with better coffee.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026
More than a century later, that idea still hums inside the company's workshop.
—Tom Barnas, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The machine that usually hums with ruthless efficiency looked broken, battered, and completely devoid of answers.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, OneCoin still hums along and continues to attract investors.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
While most of the country huddles indoors against the winter chill, the City by the Bay hums with a unique energy—born from its legacy as one of the world’s true cultural capitals.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The musical prose hums with different accents, most evidently with Milena’s quips in French and Enzo’s Levantine lilt.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Torpön hums with activity in the summer — kayaking, paddleboarding, boating — but winters are long and quiet, the island more or less deserted.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
The mountain hums with energy, but never chaos.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
In the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Felipe’s Heladería hums with a nostalgic rhythm—whirring blenders, clinking spoons, and that telltale chorus of people debating toppings.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The set hums with energy—fans roaring, camera shutters firing, stylists darting in to adjust a trench coat or brush bronzer on her cheeks—yet Vonn remains composed, fully in control.
—Sierra Shafer, Outside, 18 Nov. 2025
Better yet, the historic Main Street hums with après-ski energy, cozy cocktail bars, and fireside dining.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Even in his stillest moments, Reilly hums with the restlessness of a jazz explorer.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s rooftop bars deliver a heady blend of skyline drama and cocktail craft—Starlite brings its storied perch back to life with Art Deco shimmer and late‑night DJ sets, while Cavaña hums with Latin spirits and sweeping Bay Bridge views.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Best Time To Visit The best time to visit Delray Beach is from late April through early June, when the city still hums with energy but sheds the intensity of peak season.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Jaipur is joyful, loud and full of stories — a city that hums with color, history, and life.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Miami hums as a warm-weather clearing house for Latin American taste and capital, part art fair, part duty-free fever dream with better coffee.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026
More than a century later, that idea still hums inside the company's workshop.
—Tom Barnas, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The machine that usually hums with ruthless efficiency looked broken, battered, and completely devoid of answers.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, OneCoin still hums along and continues to attract investors.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hums
Noun
-
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Take their purrs, for example, which are known to vibrate at frequencies that can reduce stress and soothe anxiety.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This hotel buzzes with young style- and budget-conscious travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Getty Images Of the nine players in the Rays’ batting order Opening Day 2025 against the visiting Rockies, only four remain with the club less than one month before Charlotte Sports Park buzzes with activity that signals the start of spring training.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There have been political whispers in South Windsor since the November election about whether the decision disqualifying Amadasun was part of a Republican ploy to keep Democrats from achieving a council supermajority.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
14 Jan. 2026
-
And then, there were whispers about health care staff who were a little too vocal, finding their tires slashed when their workday ended.—
Mary Buser,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hums. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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