purr

American  

[pur] / pɜr /

Archaic, pur

verb (used without object)

• purrs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• purred,
  past participle,  past
• purring
  present participle

1. to utter a low, continuous, murmuring sound expressive of contentment or pleasure, as a cat does.

2. (of things) to make a sound suggestive of the purring of a cat.

   The new motor of the car purred.

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verb (used with object)

• purrs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• purred,
  past participle,  past
• purring
  present participle

1. to express by or as if by purring.

noun

• purrs
  plural

1. the low, vibrating sound made by a cat by the contracting of the laryngeal muscles and the diaphragm as it breathes.

2. a sound resembling this.

3. the act of purring.

purr British  

/ pɜː /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of cats) to make a low vibrant sound, usually considered as expressing pleasure, etc

2. (tr) to express (pleasure, etc) by this sound

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noun

1. a purring sound

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• purringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• purrs
  plural

Participles

• purring
  present
• purred
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• purr
  simple
• purrs
  simple
• have purred
  perfect
• has purred
  perfect
• am purring
  progressive
• are purring
  progressive
• is purring
  progressive
• have been purring
  perfect progressive
• has been purring
  perfect progressive

Past

• purred
  simple
• had purred
  perfect
• was purring
  progressive
• were purring
  progressive
• had been purring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will purr
  simple
• will have purred
  perfect
• will be purring
  progressive
• will have been purring
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of purr

First recorded in 1595–1605; imitative

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Explanation

The happy sound a relaxed cat makes is a purr. A purr is low and fluttery, and you can feel it vibrating in the cat's body. Your pet cat purrs, and so do some of her larger relatives, like the puma and the bobcat, as well as the cat-like animal called a genet, raccoons, badgers, tapirs, and even guinea pigs. Scientists aren't entirely sure how a cat purrs, but they do know that felines can either purr or roar, but not both (lions, for example, don't purr). They also suspect that a purr evolved as communication between mother cats and nursing kittens.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

purr purrs purred purring

Then Curry, undulating ever so slightly, delivers his first lines in a cavernous register, seated someplace between a purr and a growl.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

There is the intermittent purr of generators, dogs barking, and, from time to time, the dry clack of domino tiles echoing in the street.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

I told them I got mine hours ago and the group emitted a collective purr.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

They handled Australia next as the engine began to purr.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

He heard the men’s feet crunch away and then the purr of the cart growing fainter and fainter until it was gone.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

When Banks purrs, “You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25,” you’ll have to forgive me for taking that as a threat, not a tease.

From Salon ● Feb. 20, 2026

Instead, as a vehicle for a pair of wonderful performances, “Pillion” purrs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

"Tee off on a trail of history," the club history purrs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2025

A portable heater purrs with a bright orange glow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2024

By this time Mango has climbed up onto my chest, and I pet him while he purrs loudly.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

In the morning, as we ate vegan doughnuts and watched cat cartoons, kitten Asher plopped onto my lap and purred loudly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

"You do not have to do any strain to the voice. He is great," Trump purred.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

She said her Chelsea side "purred" after they beat Arsenal to win the Women's FA Cup, days after opposing manager Jonas Eidevall admitted he was superstitious about black cats.

From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2024

And yet Mr. Chapek inexplicably purred through an earnings conference call with analysts and investors, spinning the results as positive and offering gooey observations about Disney’s ability to sell “magical memories that last a lifetime.”

From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

Bob slung Percy over his shoulder like a bag of sports equipment while the skeleton kitten Small Bob curled up on Percy’s back and purred.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Fellow volunteer Aurelie Zucchello, from a local cat charity, stroked a purring ginger feline.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Early in his TV career, his purring voice and enchanting grin helped transform a string of coffee commercials into a serialized love story.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

As a panderer, one artfully strokes purring sympathizers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

He's recovering well back at home enjoying chin rubs and purring loudly.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026

The storm must have broken its spirit, for it lay purring close to Caroline’s chest.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

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