grumble

American  

[gruhm-buhl] / ˈgrʌm bəl /

verb (used without object)

grumbled, grumbling

1. to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.

   Tim always found something to grumble about.

2. to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl.

   Suddenly I heard my stomach grumble, and realized I hadn't had any lunch.

3. to rumble.

   The thunder grumbled in the west.

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verb (used with object)

grumbled, grumbling

1. to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.

noun

1. an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy murmur; growl.

2. grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.

3. a rumble.

grumble British  

/ ˈɡrʌmbəl /

verb

1. to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way

2. (intr) to make low dull rumbling sounds

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noun

1. a complaint; grouse

2. 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

“These people believe that you take the scab off of a wound and take it off again and again until something miraculous happens,” Boritt grumbles to the camera.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Mom would let me take a shower first,” I grumble.

From Literature

A woman in the line grumbled, “He leaves a handicapped six-year-old alone and then wants special treatment to find her.”

From Literature

She was a pretty good sport about it, except in the middle of the night, when occasionally she grumbled a little.

From Literature

In the kitchen, her great-aunt Leonor had grumbled at her cold hands and given her a cup of hot cordial, when there was a knock on the door.

From Literature

Related Words

• carp
• fuss
• gripe
• groan
• moan
• squawk