murmur

American  

[mur-mer] / ˈmɜr mər /

noun

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)

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)

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.

Related Words

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

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

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

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

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

It leans more mushroom than tomato, so the whole thing carries a low, woodsy murmur.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

My son and my husband each murmur happy greetings in response, assuming I was talking to them—and Thomas, ever the diplomat, says nothing to correct the record.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 11, 2025

But when Khorram’s husband took Mini the Maltese to get microchipped, the vet broke the news: The pup had a heart murmur.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

As Betsie and I stepped out with Father between us, a murmur of horror greeted the sight of “Haarlem’s Grand Old Man” being led to prison.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

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