mum

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

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See synonyms for: mum / mums on Thesaurus.com

adjective

silent; not saying a word: to keep mum.

interjection

(used to demand immediate silence.)

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about mum

mum's the word, do not reveal what you know (about something); keep silent: Mum's the word, or the surprise party won't be a surprise.

Origin of mum

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative

Words nearby mum

multiwall, multiwindow, Multnomah Falls, multum in parvo, multure, mum, mum-and-dad investor, Mumbai, mumble, mumblecore, mumbletypeg

Other definitions for mum (2 of 6)

mum²

or mumm

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

verb (used without object), mummed, mum·ming.

to say “mum”; call for silence.

to act as a mummer.

Origin of mum

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb use of mum¹; compare Middle Dutch mommen ”to act the mummer's part”

Other definitions for mum (3 of 6)

mum³

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

noun

chrysanthemum.

Origin of mum

First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form

Other definitions for mum (4 of 6)

mum⁴

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

noun Chiefly British.

mom (def. 1).

Origin of mum

⁴

First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; see mom

Other definitions for mum (5 of 6)

mum⁵

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

noun

a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.

Origin of mum

⁵

First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it

Other definitions for mum (6 of 6)

mum⁶

[ muhm ]

/ mʌm /

noun Chiefly British.

madam.

Origin of mum

⁶

Variant of ma'am

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

MORE ABOUT MUM

What does mum mean?

Mum is an adjective that means keeping quiet. It can also be used by itself to mean Be quiet!

This sense of mum is especially used in the expressions keep mum and mum’s the word.

In the U.K. and other places, mum is used as a word for mom or madam. It’s also commonly used as a short way of saying chrysanthemum, a type of flower.

Example: Mum’s keeping mum—I can’t get a word out of her!

Where does mum come from?

Mum in the sense of “silent” comes from the Middle English word momme, which is probably imitative of the sound that a closed mouth makes. Go ahead—try it. It sounds like mumbling, right? Well, the word mumble is based on the same word.

Most likely, your mum has told you not to mumble. And she’s probably also told you on many occasions to keep quiet, or keep mum. The idea behind the instruction—and the origin of the word—is that the mouth should be closed. Somewhat relatedly, the word for mother in many languages around the world begins with the m sound, which is also made with the mouth closed (and is one of the first sounds babies learn how to make).

When used to mean “madam,” mum is a variation of ma’am, which is a shortening of madam.

Mum can also be used as a verb meaning to “act as a mummer,” a kind of costumed performer.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to mum?

mums (plural noun, as in the flowers)
mummy (equivalent to mommy)

What are some synonyms for mum?

What are some words that share a root or word element with mum?

mumble

What are some words that often get used in discussing mum?

How is mum used in real life?

Mum is often used in a critical way to suggest a suspicious silence. It frequently gets used in political contexts.

i tried to keep mum on the lakers so the rest of laker twitter didnt eat me alive. but I can no longer stay silent. the lakers are in trouble .. they’ve been in trouble & vogel is in denial 😩 yeeesh. goodnight

— BrittanyBets (@brittany_bets) February 9, 2020

Cool. Mum’s the word. On a related note, when would you like to go thru social media onboarding training, where we learn that @‘ing said studio does in fact counteract the desire of NOT telling them?

I have time before and after lunch on Thursday. Let me know. 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/bilYoCYBND

— Zachary Levi (@ZacharyLevi) July 23, 2018

Try not to revise too much over the weekend. Quality not quantity. Have an early night. See your friends. Call your mum. Go outside. Eat real food.

— Uni of Liverpool Library (@LivUniLibrary) May 17, 2019

Try using mum!

Which of the following words is an antonym (opposite) of mum?

A. quiet
B. loud
C. silent

How to use mum in a sentence

I don’t know whether my mum pouted, but definitely channeled her with great pride and honor.
‘Bridgerton’s’ Golda Rosheuvel On Playing Queen Charlotte: ‘It Gives Us A Seat At The Round Table’|cmurray|January 7, 2021|Essence.com
Ervin and other providers say they watched with confusion in recent weeks as states such as New Jersey and Ohio gave top vaccination priority to group home residents, while Maryland health officials stayed mum on the issue.
Maryland places disabled adults in group homes high on vaccine priority list|Rebecca Tan|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
The surface of Majella’s experience may be an endless cycle of repeated actions — bring mum tea, re-watch “Dallas,” clean the kitchen — but there are subterranean shifts taking place.
Make room for ‘Big Girl, Small Town’|Ron Charles|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked.
After growing up poor, a Premier League star corners U.K. into feeding its hungry|Amos Barshad|November 30, 2020|Washington Post

He was American but told them he was from Canada, and he would call his mother “mum” over the phone.
How a TikTok house destroyed itself|Rebecca Jennings|October 1, 2020|Vox
This might be why Cosby is keeping mum on the accusations, despite the obvious public relations disaster.
No Wonder Cosby's Keeping Quiet: He Could Still Be Prosecuted|Jay Michaelson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If there was another goal, the Obama administration is keeping mum about it.
To Free American Prisoners, America’s Top Spy Goes to North Korea|Shane Harris|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The presidential hopefuls fire up the faithful with promises to extend the Republican revolution to 2016, as Jeb Bush stays mum.
In Texas, Cruz, Perry Crow Over GOP Rout|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think maybe it was the justification he used for that and how he treated my mum for having what he thought was an affair.
Alan Cumming: The Truth About My Father|Tim Teeman|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Mum was living in fear as well we were trapped,” Cumming tells me.
Alan Cumming: The Truth About My Father|Tim Teeman|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum—but that don't make no difference.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Mrs. Maynard, with a sparkling glance about her that says "Mum," has slipped off her wedding-ring, and Belle has taken her hand.
Mushroom Town|Oliver Onions
Oh, Mum, I was going to get you a sweet little bracelet of old Irish paste—you know—a thing in four little chains.
Happy House|Betsey Riddle, Freifrau von Hutten zum Stolzenberg
And I have something to tell him, Mum—he'll—he'll be having a little sister in the spring.
Happy House|Betsey Riddle, Freifrau von Hutten zum Stolzenberg
Their tongues and loud Rad ram's-horns do their level best to win it, Mum.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 107, October 20, 1894|Various

British Dictionary definitions for mum (1 of 4)

mum¹

/ (mʌm) /

noun

mainly British an informal word for mother 1

Word Origin for mum

C19: a child's word

British Dictionary definitions for mum (2 of 4)

mum²

/ (mʌm) /

adjective

keeping information to oneself; silent

noun

mum's the word silence or secrecy is to be observed

Word Origin for mum

C14: suggestive of closed lips

British Dictionary definitions for mum (3 of 4)

mum³

mumm

/ (mʌm) /

verb mums, mumming or mummed

(intr) to act in a mummer's play

Word Origin for mum

C16: verbal use of mum ²

British Dictionary definitions for mum (4 of 4)

mum⁴

/ (mʌm) /

noun

British obsolete a type of beer made from cereals, beans, etc

Word Origin for mum

C17: from German Mumme, perhaps from the name of its original brewer

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

mum

Idioms about mum

Origin of mum

Words nearby mum

Other definitions for mum (2 of 6)

or mumm

Origin of mum

Other definitions for mum (3 of 6)

Origin of mum

Other definitions for mum (4 of 6)

Origin of mum

Other definitions for mum (5 of 6)

Origin of mum

Other definitions for mum (6 of 6)

Origin of mum

MORE ABOUT MUM

What does mum mean?

Where does mum come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is mum used in real life?

Try using mum!

Words related to mum

How to use mum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mum (1 of 4)

Word Origin for mum

British Dictionary definitions for mum (2 of 4)

Word Origin for mum

British Dictionary definitions for mum (3 of 4)

mumm

Word Origin for mum

British Dictionary definitions for mum (4 of 4)

Word Origin for mum