mutter
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur.
-
to complain murmuringly; grumble.
-
to make a low, rumbling sound.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
to utter (something) in a low and indistinct tone
-
(intr) to grumble or complain
-
(intr) to make a low continuous murmuring sound
noun
noun
Related Words
See murmur.
Other Word Forms
- mutterer noun
- muttering noun
- mutteringly adverb
- unmuttered adjective
- unmuttering adjective
- unmutteringly adverb
Etymology
Origin of mutter
1325–75; Middle English moteren, perhaps frequentative of moot ( Old English mōtian to speak); -er 6
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Don’t even know where those two live,” she muttered.
From Literature
He searched through them, muttering to himself, until he found the one he wanted.
From Literature
“George H. W. and George W. Bush,” the boy muttered quietly to himself.
From Literature
“Hmm,” he muttered, “you have to make your own fair in this world!”
From Literature
He wants to know why she’s unhappy; the audience will be muttering, “Get a clue.”
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
