grumble
[ gruhm-buhl ]
/ ˈgrʌm bəl /
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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
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
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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, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use grumble in a sentence
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, adjectiveWord Origin for grumble
C16: from Middle Low German grommelen, of Germanic origin; see grim
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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