grumble
Americanverb (used without object)
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to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.
Tim always found something to grumble about.
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to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl.
Suddenly I heard my stomach grumble, and realized I hadn't had any lunch.
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to rumble.
The thunder grumbled in the west.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy murmur; growl.
-
grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.
-
a rumble.
verb
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to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way
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(intr) to make low dull rumbling sounds
noun
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a complaint; grouse
-
a low rumbling sound
Related Words
See complain.
Other Word Forms
- grumbler noun
- grumblingly adverb
- grumbly adjective
- ungrumbling adjective
Etymology
Origin of grumble
First recorded in 1580–90; perhaps frequentative of Old English grymman “to wail”; compare Dutch grommelen, German grummeln, French grommeler (from Germanic )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Private credit investors may grumble, as some funds prorate redemption requests.
From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026
In a flash, the journalist is gone, leaving Gustav to grumble, “TikTok troll.”
From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026
My car never tires, panics or wavers; it doesn’t jolt at brake lights or grumble at traffic jams.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
"Even though it is a nominal charge people will have a grumble," he said.
From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025
“It was your blasted father,” Queen Marie would grumble in her darker moods.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
