hum 1 of 2

noun

Definition of humnext
as in purr
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

hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm How to pronounce hum (audio)
1
as in to burst
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 to buzz
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 hum
Noun
Their Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation effectively quiets daily transit hums and crowded office chatter, while custom 40mm drivers pump out rich acoustics backed by customizable Ultra Bass tuning. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 Inside one of American Royal’s vast new barns, the smell of fresh paint still lingers as the hum of whirring drills and construction equipment fills the space just over 15 days until its first event on the new campus. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Pastel Colonial buildings lined the streets, their facades glowing in the afternoon sun, while the plazas hummed with life. — Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026 But Mensah finished the game going 6 of 10 for just 7 yards after throwing for 213 yards during his record-setting completion run that, to that point, allowed Miami’s high-octane offense to keep humming. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
  1. purr
  2. burst
  3. buzz
  4. whisper
  5. bulge
  6. zip
  7. rustle
  8. whir
Noun
  • Highlights and experiences It is always a special event stepping out of Venice’s airport onto a pontoon and a polished mahogany water taxi that drops you off canalside near your hotel, after a purr through the Grand Canal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of purr
Verb
  • People are herby, people are lemony, people are mustardy, bursting at the taste buds with umami.
    — Raven Smith, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Walker burst free on a 76-yard run that turned the game around.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • The awards buzz may prove tough to come by at this point, given that Digger was hit with a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, landing as one of the lowest grades for Cruise’s career, and has polarized critics.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • One of the acts that made a big impression on the youngsters was the Allen Tolbert Unit, whose namesake would captivate them by buzzing up and down his guitar fretboard like a hummingbird in flight.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • There are whispers in France of these protests transforming into another Yellow Vests movement, which was leaderless, nationwide and unified a broad church of grievances.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Dyson Air Purifier Prime Day Deals The Dyson Hushjet is a compact, small-form air purifier that's whisper-quiet but powerful.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Check for dented seams and bulging lids, which can point to food safety issues, recommends Morawetz.
    — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Her bulging eyes, her piercing shrieks, her casual yet immaculately articulate cruelty all come together to form a cartoonish villain who’s also a commanding delight.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • While Starship achieved the proper orbit, zipping along at 17,500 mph, flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple of laps.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Each new expansion is designed to zip in to the Pah-Pah base trailer tent, allowing owners to grow their camp without having to start over with a new trailer.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • The full textile experience, after all, is multisensory—visual, tactile, and sometimes auditory (think of taffeta’s distinctive rustle).
    — Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Still, Polk’s family found peace there, watching big owls swoop down and falling asleep to the rustle of two acres of trees.
    — Austyn Gaffney, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of rustle
Verb
  • Powerful cutters have whirred to life on a giant drill that will begin boring a new train tunnel under the Hudson River connecting Manhattan to New Jersey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The studio whirred to what has been described as Aison’s fresh and distinct take on the police helicopter angle, which really hasn’t been explored since 1983’s thriller Blue Thunder.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of whir

Browse Nearby Words

hulls
hum
human
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Cite this Entry

“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hum

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