Showing results for "babbling"

• present participle of babble.

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; see origin at babble, -ing ¹ (for the noun senses), -ing ² (for the adjective)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

babbling

In the book, most homes have parlor walls with huge video screens that broadcast streams of babbling commentary for both entertainment and manipulation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

The phrase echoed the one I had spoken years earlier to a babbling toddler in a Baltimore church.

From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026

This, of course, is unscientific babbling, which is why the professor is a beloved guest on Rogan’s show.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2025

Haden Pentecost, 41, was working on a flight from California to London when he started to become agitated and was described as "sweating" and "babbling".

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025

But before I started blubbering and babbling everything to her, my heart stopped me.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan