grumble

[ gruhm-buhl ]

/ ˈgrʌm bəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: grumble / grumbled / grumbling / grumbler on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), grum·bled, grum·bling.

to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly: Tim always found something to grumble about.

to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl: Suddenly I heard my stomach grumble, and realized I hadn't had any lunch.

to rumble: The thunder grumbled in the west.

verb (used with object), grum·bled, grum·bling.

to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.

noun

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

grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.

a rumble.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 )

synonym study for grumble

1. See complain.

OTHER WORDS FROM grumble

grumbler, noungrum·bling·ly, adverbgrumbly, adjectiveun·grum·bling, adjective

Words nearby grumble

gruff, gruffy, grugru, gruiform, grum, grumble, grumbling appendix, grume, grummet, grumous, grump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use grumble in a sentence

McConnell isn’t one to gamble with a headcount, so the fact he announced the deal presumes he has the votes in the Senate despite the grumbles over an encroaching House.
Mitch McConnell Helps Democrats Avoid a Global Economic Meltdown—And Plans to Use That Against Them|Philip Elliott|December 9, 2021|Time
But Google grumble grumble makes me compose new messages in a tiny window, you say.
Gmail Priority Inbox Freakout: Calm Down, Guys, Opting Out Is Easy|Winston Ross|July 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But grumble grumble sometimes my messages get sorted into the wrong folders.
Gmail Priority Inbox Freakout: Calm Down, Guys, Opting Out Is Easy|Winston Ross|July 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But grumble grumble Google just forced this upon me without asking, you say.
Gmail Priority Inbox Freakout: Calm Down, Guys, Opting Out Is Easy|Winston Ross|July 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST

So for now, the movies are about more, even if many of us will grumble about Les Miz's running time on the way out of the theater.
Why Are 2012’s Holiday Movies So Damn Long?|Ramin Setoodeh|December 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Yes, Republicans grumble (rightly) against the Obama green-energy subsidies.
Doomsday Conservatives: Too Many Hormones, Too Little Plan|David Frum|December 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He had transferred himself to the buggy with a grumble of disgust, and begged her to come for him early in the morning.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
In any case my conscience will be clear, and I shall no longer have any right to grumble at my lot.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
"No wonder things git pindlin' under this old locust-tree," Sophy heard him grumble.
Country Neighbors|Alice Brown
Gradually the relaxing steam-radiators began to grunt and grumble into a chill quietude.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
By the marauders it was looked upon as a grand frolic, and owners of missing mats and deluged yards might grumble as they pleased.
The Story of the Big Front Door|Mary Finley Leonard

British Dictionary definitions for grumble

grumble

/ (ˈɡrʌmbəl) /

verb

to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way

(intr) to make low dull rumbling sounds

noun

a complaint; grouse

a low rumbling sound

Derived forms of grumble

grumbler, noungrumblingly, adverbgrumbly, adjective

Word Origin for grumble

C16: from Middle Low German grommelen, of Germanic origin; see grim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

grumble

Origin of grumble

synonym study for grumble

OTHER WORDS FROM grumble

Words nearby grumble

Words related to grumble

How to use grumble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grumble

Derived forms of grumble

Word Origin for grumble