murmur

American  

[mur-mer] / ˈmɜr mər /

noun

• murmurs
  plural

1. 

   a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind, or trees, or of low, indistinct voices.

   Synonyms:

   mumble, susurration, grumble, mutter, complaint

2. a mumbled or private expression of discontent.

3. Also called heart murmur.  Medicine/Medical.

   1. an abnormal sound heard on listening to the heart, usually through a stethoscope, produced by the blood passing through deformed cardiac valves.

   2. in some persons a similar sound heard when blood passes through normal valves.

4. Phonetics. a voice quality in which vibration of the vocal cords is accompanied by the escape of a great deal of air, as in the (h) of ahead; breathy voice.

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verb (used without object)

• murmurs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• murmured,
  past participle,  past
• murmuring
  present participle

1. to make a low or indistinct sound, especially continuously.

2. to speak in a low tone or indistinctly.

3. to complain in a low tone or in private.

   Synonyms:

   grouse

verb (used with object)

• murmurs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• murmured,
  past participle,  past
• murmuring
  present participle

1. to sound by murmurs.

2. to utter in a low tone.

   He murmured a threat as he left the room.

murmur British  

/ ˈmɜːmə /

noun

1. a continuous low indistinct sound, as of distant voices

2. an indistinct utterance

   a murmur of satisfaction

3. a complaint; grumble

   he made no murmur at my suggestion

4. med any abnormal soft blowing sound heard within the body, usually over the chest See also heart murmur

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verb

1. to utter (something) in a murmur

2. (intr) to complain in a murmur

Usage

What does murmur mean? To murmur is to make a continuous, low, and indistinct sound. Such a sound can be called a murmur. Examples include the sound of water in a stream, the wind through the trees, and the low, muffled sound of a TV in another room. This is the way the word is used in the phrase the murmur of the crowd, which refers to the collective sound of a lot of people talking at once. In contrast, the roar of the crowd refers to collective cheering and is much louder. Murmur also means to say something in a low tone that can’t be easily understood. Similar words are mutter and mumble. Murmuring in this way is often done to express discontent with whatever one is talking about. The thing that’s said can be called a murmur. This sense of murmur can also be used in a more figurative way to refer to a private expression of discontent, as in There were murmurs about a strike.  In the context of medicine, murmur is a short form of the term heart murmur, referring to an abnormal sound heard when listening to a heartbeat with a stethoscope (such a sound may indicate the presence of deformation in the heart valves). Example: The endless murmur of the creek was as good as a lullaby, soothing me to sleep.

Synonym Usage

Murmur, mumble, mutter mean to make sounds that are not fully intelligible. To murmur is to utter sounds or words in a low, almost inaudible tone, as in expressing affection or dissatisfaction: to murmur disagreement. To mumble is to utter imperfect or inarticulate sounds with the mouth partly closed, so that the words can be distinguished only with difficulty: to mumble the answer to a question. To mutter is to utter words in a low, grumbling way, often voicing complaint or discontent, not meant to be fully audible: to mutter complaints.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• murmurer
  noun
• murmuring
  noun
• murmurless
  adjective
• murmurous
  adjective
• unmurmured
  adjective
• unmurmuring
  adjective
• murmuringly
  adverb
• murmurlessly
  adverb
• unmurmuringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• murmurs
  plural

Participles

• murmuring
  present
• murmured
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• murmur
  simple
• murmurs
  simple
• have murmured
  perfect
• has murmured
  perfect
• am murmuring
  progressive
• are murmuring
  progressive
• is murmuring
  progressive
• have been murmuring
  perfect progressive
• has been murmuring
  perfect progressive

Past

• murmured
  simple
• had murmured
  perfect
• was murmuring
  progressive
• were murmuring
  progressive
• had been murmuring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will murmur
  simple
• will have murmured
  perfect
• will be murmuring
  progressive
• will have been murmuring
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of murmur

First recorded in 1275–1325; verb murmur from Middle English murmuren, from Latin murmurāre “to mutter, make a gentle sound, roar, grumble,” a Latin development of mormor-, murmur-, a Proto-Indo-European onomatopoeic root that appears in Greek mormýrein “(of water) to boil noisily,” Sanskirt marmara- “rustling, rushing,” Lithuanian murmėti “to babble, mutter,” and German murmeln “to mumble, murmur”; noun murmur also from Middle English, from Latin

Explanation

A murmur is a quiet, blurred sound often heard from a distance. It can be comforting when you're little to fall asleep listening to the murmur of your parents talking downstairs. Murmur can also be a verb that means the same as mutter: you say something so quietly that your words can't be understood. You might be complaining about something — a murmur is often a sign that someone's not pleased. A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound that can only be detected by a doctor with a stethoscope, it's so low and soft.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

murmur murmurs murmured murmuring

Dozens of world leaders were discussing how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a videoconference on Friday when a murmur went up among the presidents and prime ministers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Something you accept with a paper napkin under fluorescent lighting and a murmur of gratitude.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026

The first replay showed a murmur of a noise on the technology and Smith immediately started to walk from the field.

From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025

The murmur, though, appeared to come after the ball had passed Smith's bat.

From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025

Then again when the wind stirs they murmur; so these two also, stirred by the breath of love, were fated to tell out all their tale to each other.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

“So good,” Chip murmurs, his eyes rolling back.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

The main corridor linking the two golden shrines and the surrounding alleyways were once alive with the murmurs of tourists walking to prayers.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

With time on his hands, and having already heard murmurs about a gifted boy from Bihar, Naidu headed to another match being played simultaneously.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026

Concerns about the relative impact of boxers and briefs on fertility, for instance, have given way to today’s murmurs about plastic, testosterone and population rates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

Finally she murmurs, “He should get another chance.”

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Daphne and Eddie magnanimously turn the other cheek and then go back to lavishing one another with murmured compliments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

"It's the only thing that makes me forget what's going on," he murmured.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

I went straight to hospital, was put on an IV drip and transferred to another hospital where I had to stay overnight, while doctors murmured about a serious infection and me having to sign waivers.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025

“You really need to call your doctor,” he murmured as he dabbed the scrapes.

From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2023

“The lights are uniquely attuned to Josie’s genetic makeup,” the shadowy woman murmured.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The ruminative “Third Side of the Moon” finds Brock murmuring how he wishes he’d paid closer attention to the details of a friend who is no longer with him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

On many songs, including “American Girls” and “Taste Back,” Mr. Styles sings the first verse or two in a murmuring low register, his voice drenched in reverb.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026

"Like starlings murmuring in the sky," Miller said.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2025

People kept stopping to talk to him, although they mostly made small murmuring noises, like the fake brook that runs through a suburban shopping center.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2025

In the study, Ophie once again found the man sitting at the desk, still murmuring about accounts and shipping fees.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• babble
• burble
• growl
• gurgle
• hum
• moan
• mumble
• mutter
• purr
• stammer
• utter
• whisper