murmur

[ mur-mer ]

/ ˈmɜr mər /

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See synonyms for: murmur / murmured / murmuring / murmurer on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

a mumbled or private expression of discontent.

Also called heart murmur. Medicine/Medical.

an abnormal sound heard on listening to the heart, usually through a stethoscope, produced by the blood passing through deformed cardiac valves.
in some persons a similar sound heard when blood passes through normal valves.

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.

verb (used without object)

to make a low or indistinct sound, especially continuously.

to speak in a low tone or indistinctly.

to complain in a low tone or in private.

verb (used with object)

to sound by murmurs.

to utter in a low tone: He murmured a threat as he left the room.

OTHER WORDS FOR murmur

1 grumble, susurration, mumble, complaint, mutter.

7 grouse.

See synonyms for murmur on Thesaurus.com

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

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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

synonym study for murmur

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 WORDS FROM murmur

mur·mur·er, nounmur·mur·less, adjectivemur·mur·less·ly, adverbun·mur·mured, adjective

un·mur·mur·ing, adjectiveun·mur·mur·ing·ly, adverb

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

How to use murmur in a sentence

Any ambient sound that mimics the murmur of people talking and moving in the background should have the same effects.
Is watching TV actually a good way to relax?|Corinne Iozzio|January 27, 2021|Popular-Science
Over the past couple of days, enough murmurs of Page’s suitability for the role of the iconic British secret service agent have spread across Twitter to give studios something to think about.
The People Have Spoken And They Want Regé-Jean Page To Be The Next Bond|Brande Victorian|January 7, 2021|Essence.com
There were other murmurs about Brady’s ability to throw the long ball — a significant problem in Arians’s offense.
NFL QBs’ second acts have often failed. As usual, Tom Brady is ready to defy the odds.|Eric Adelson|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
There were murmurs of addressing the hole with a trade for Kris Bryant.
How a Kris Bryant trade could solve a persistent question for the Nationals|Jesse Dougherty|November 23, 2020|Washington Post

Sound designer Mikhail Fiksel helps conjure such environments with background murmurs, rustling papers, a suitcase rolling across a Four Seasons lobby and more.
Audio adaptation of Beltway drama ‘Kings’ tantalizes but ultimately falls flat without a stage|Celia Wren|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
There was no applause, no murmuring, no debate; the crowd was simply, utterly, absolutely speechless.
When TB Was a Death Sentence: An Excerpt From ‘The Remedy’|Thomas Goetz|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Constance tipped her sunshade to shield her eyes, and she and Louis began a murmuring conversation which was impossible to catch.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She enjoys the first of her new supply while murmuring "how dreadful" while reading at breakfast of the sinking of the Lusitania.
David's Bookclub: Time Regained|David Frum|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It seems like only a few days ago that we were feverishly murmuring about the impending implosion of the global system.
More Mania in the Markets|Zachary Karabell|October 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Baker, murmuring a word of support for the vilified Brooks, noted that she had been on vacation when the offense occurred.
Dow Chief Quits in Phone-Hack Scandal|Nick Summers|July 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The Cockalorum pondered over this for a moment, and then murmuring, "I prefer croquet," floundered away through the waving grass.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Her soft murmuring voice has stolen into his brain; he hears it in the drip, drip of the rain on the sill outside.
Uncanny Tales|Various
She had no patterns to copy; but her imagination wandered through the green fields and by the murmuring brooks of her rural home.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
The valley was arrayed in all the freshness and loveliness of spring; La Belle was murmuring her sweetest music.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
But it is certain that, if there was murmuring among the Jacobites, it was disregarded by James.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for murmur

murmur

/ (ˈmɜːmə) /

noun

a continuous low indistinct sound, as of distant voices

an indistinct utterancea murmur of satisfaction

a complaint; grumblehe made no murmur at my suggestion

med any abnormal soft blowing sound heard within the body, usually over the chestSee also heart murmur

verb -murs, -muring or -mured

to utter (something) in a murmur

(intr) to complain in a murmur

Derived forms of murmur

murmurer, nounmurmuring, noun, adjectivemurmuringly, adverbmurmurous, adjective

Word Origin for murmur

C14: as n, from Latin murmur; vb via Old French murmurer from Latin murmurāre to rumble

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

murmur

OTHER WORDS FOR murmur

Origin of murmur

synonym study for murmur

OTHER WORDS FROM murmur

Words related to murmur

How to use murmur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for murmur

Derived forms of murmur

Word Origin for murmur