babbling

American  

[bab-ling] / ˈbæb lɪŋ /

noun

1. foolish or meaningless chatter; prattle.

   the constant babbling of idle gossips.

2. the random production of meaningless vocal sounds characteristic of infants around the age of three months.

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adjective

1. chattering or prattling aimlessly.

   The babbling crowd quieted and funneled back into the auditorium at the end of intermission.

2. making a continuous murmuring sound.

   a babbling brook.

Other Word Forms

• babblingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of babbling

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English babelinde, bablyng; babble, -ing ¹ (for the noun senses), -ing ² (for the adjective)

Example Sentences

Briany was sitting on Raysa’s lap as they watched TV in the living room, babbling along as she listened to the couple talk, when Israel’s phone rang.

From Salon

"America is a big place with 350 plus million people all babbling over their identity and their agency and those struggles create interesting patterns," he says.

From BBC

He still didn’t say anything, so I just kept on babbling.

From Literature

“Great-backed what? Puffins? What on earth are you babbling on about? Let me pass!”

From Literature

It seemed a little irresponsible to leave him alone, babbling like that, so he took the cell phone Chip offered him.

From Literature