humming

American  

[huhm-ing] / ˈhʌm ɪŋ /

adjective

1. making a droning sound; buzzing.

2. very busy; briskly active.

   a humming office.

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Other Word Forms

• hummingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of humming

First recorded in 1570–80; hum + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Even amid cataclysmic energy shocks and relentless spates of white-collar layoffs, the American economic engine appears to be humming along smoothly.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

The aroma is deeper, fuller; the warmth blooms instead of merely humming.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

“The factories are now humming back to life from this week, so we will start to see that pressure come through sooner rather than later,” Sharma said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

But just as shareholders were humming the opening bars to “Rocky Mountain High,” the company predicted a sharp drop in this year’s profit, and the stock gave back nearly all of its gains.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

“At the end it says, ‘We’d eat, you humming and me swinging my legs.’

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan