harrumph

[huh-ruhmf]

verb (used without object)

1. to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner.

   The professor harrumphed good-naturedly.

2. to express oneself gruffly.

harrumph

/ həˈrʌmf /

verb

1. (intr) to clear or make the noise of clearing the throat

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrumph¹

First recorded in 1935–40; imitative

Example Sentences

At that point he simply harrumphed and said, “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

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This echoes what most of the British press and that other American Meghan, she of House McCain, harrumphed about the supposed tone deafness of Season 1.

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Trump is far from the first US president to harrumph at Europe's reluctance to do more for, as well as spend more on, its own defence.

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"Trousers," exclaims the Prince Andrew character, with a fruity harrumph, as though taken aback by a female interviewer wearing trousers.

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I humored her harrumphs when my best friend and I waited in line for hours to see the second batch in the late 1990s.

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