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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of hums
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
Music hums from cars, people linger in clusters, and no one seems to be getting gas.
—Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
On most days, the children’s adventure garden at the Dallas Arboretum hums with the chatter of curious kids.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
This collection hums with multiracial dread, and explores the nuances of family making outside hegemony.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Barco already threw a splitter, but this new changeup has 13 more inches of fade than his split-finger and hums along a couple ticks harder.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Yosef’s relationship with his sister, Azraa, hums with the familiar chords of siblinghood — antagonism and refuge intertwined.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Deep into the Panamanian night, the forest hums with sound.
—Leonie Baier, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
In Northern Virginia, known as Data Center Alley, some property owners have tried to escape continuous hums by selling their homes.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Katherine Asmussen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The group hums in agreement, offering dispatches from their own lives about thorny friendships.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
One of Florida’s largest first-magnitude springs, Rainbow Springs anchors a 1,470-acre park that now hums with kayaks gliding over eelgrass, snorkelers drifting above schools of fish, and tubers laughing downstream on summer afternoons.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
The area hums with culture, from galleries and artisan boutiques to live music at Stinky’s Bait Shack (go Fridays and see Matt Miller, fiddler extraordinaire) and the 30A Songwriters Festival.
—Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
The crowd hums with anticipation — half nerves, half adrenaline.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
Your 12th House of Inner Worlds hums as the Moon grumbles at combative Mars in your philosophical 9th house, making private worries flare when big debates start circling.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
Music hums from cars, people linger in clusters, and no one seems to be getting gas.
—Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
On most days, the children’s adventure garden at the Dallas Arboretum hums with the chatter of curious kids.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
This collection hums with multiracial dread, and explores the nuances of family making outside hegemony.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Barco already threw a splitter, but this new changeup has 13 more inches of fade than his split-finger and hums along a couple ticks harder.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Yosef’s relationship with his sister, Azraa, hums with the familiar chords of siblinghood — antagonism and refuge intertwined.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Deep into the Panamanian night, the forest hums with sound.
—Leonie Baier, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
In Northern Virginia, known as Data Center Alley, some property owners have tried to escape continuous hums by selling their homes.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Your neighbor might rely on an oxygen concentrator to breathe – a machine the size of a carry-on bag that hums quietly through the night.
—Katherine Asmussen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The group hums in agreement, offering dispatches from their own lives about thorny friendships.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
One of Florida’s largest first-magnitude springs, Rainbow Springs anchors a 1,470-acre park that now hums with kayaks gliding over eelgrass, snorkelers drifting above schools of fish, and tubers laughing downstream on summer afternoons.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
The area hums with culture, from galleries and artisan boutiques to live music at Stinky’s Bait Shack (go Fridays and see Matt Miller, fiddler extraordinaire) and the 30A Songwriters Festival.
—Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
The crowd hums with anticipation — half nerves, half adrenaline.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hums
Noun
-
Honey is ready to bring love, purrs and playful cuddles to her forever home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Amid the population boom, Folsom buzzes with a new vibrancy, as its historic Gold Rush-era downtown is thriving and its surrounding lakes and trails offer plenty of outdoor recreation — and the secret’s getting out.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As the pensive Moon wanders into your vocal 3rd house, your mind buzzes with activity.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
As of now, the areas with the greatest threat to see any significant accumulation would be the farthest southeastern parts of our region before the storm zips off to the east.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Behind every trauma and calamity, whether personal or global, whispers of Jewish machination can be heard by those already listening for them.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In this extraordinary moment, we're reminded that wisdom often comes in the smallest whispers, and true courage lies in following where we're led with childlike trust.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 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 Apr. 2026.
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