hum

American  

[huhm] / hʌm /

verb (used without object)

hummed, humming

1. to make a low, continuous, droning sound.

2. to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.

3. to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.; hem.

4. to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.

5. to be in a state of busy activity.

   The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.

   Synonyms:

   buzz, bustle

6. British Slang. to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.

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verb (used with object)

hummed, humming

1. to sound, sing, or utter by humming.

   to hum a tune.

2. to bring, put, etc., by humming.

   to hum a child to sleep.

noun

1. the act or sound of humming; an inarticulate or indistinct murmur; hem.

2. Audio. an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.

interjection

1. (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

hum British  

/ hʌm /

verb

1. (intr) to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m

2. (intr) (of a person) to sing with the lips closed

3. (intr) to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem

4. informal (intr) to be in a state of feverish activity

5. slang (intr) to smell unpleasant

6. slang (intr) to scrounge

7. See hem 2

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noun

1. a low continuous murmuring sound

2. electronics an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply

3. slang a scrounger; cadger

4. slang an unpleasant odour

interjection

1. an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

Other Word Forms

• hummer noun
• underhum noun

Etymology

Origin of hum

1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; humblebee

Example Sentences

Foreman said, although she and her fellow inmates cannot really see out of the prison, they can hear "the whistling noise of missiles and hum of drones".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Wall Street jitters about the Iran war spilled over Tuesday into a vital part of U.S. financial markets that typically hum along without a hitch.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

As I headed home, the hum of Lankershim and the neon blur of bars couldn’t drown out the quiet, unmistakable voice inside me whispering, “I think I just met my future husband.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

There’s the bubbling hum of rice boiling on the stove, the intoxicating aroma of warm milk infused with jaggery and fresh pods of cardamom filling the house with a scent no candle could compete with.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026

I let her groom me and tend to me and it feels good, to feel her hands rest on my shoulders occasionally, to hear her hum under her breath.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• croon
• moan
• mumble
• murmur
• purr
• sing
• strum
• throb
• trill
• warble
• whisper