babbling

1 of 2

noun

bab·​bling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: idle, foolish, or nonsensical talk or chatter

… the … remarks would have been nothing short of treason, if they had not been so obviously the mere babblings of an irresponsible lunatic.

—P. G. Wodehouse

2

: the production of meaningless strings of speech sounds by infants

Babbling usually coincides with the beginning of one-handed reaching and rhythmic hand activity.

—M. R. Hiller

babbling

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: talking idly or foolishly

a babbling drunk

b

: producing meaningless speech sounds

a babbling baby

2

: producing a quiet, continuous sound (such as the sound of flowing water)

a babbling brook

Examples of babbling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tucked between Sedona's iconic red sandstone cliffs and the babbling Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona has long been considered one of Arizona's most inviting retreats. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025

Holding back tears, Christine Ulrich recalls how her daughter Veda once loved dancing, drawing and babbling. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Tucked between Sedona's iconic red sandstone cliffs and the babbling Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona has long been considered one of Arizona's most inviting retreats. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025

When Sarah and Justin Arrington bought a gorgeous parcel of land—complete with rolling hills, winding trails, and a babbling creek—their plans for a future forever home were intentional and hard-won. —Lauren Helmer, al, 21 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for babbling

• dabbling
• scrabbling