rumble

[ruhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

rumbled, rumbling 

1. to make a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound, as thunder.

   Synonyms: boom, roll, thunder, roar

2. to move or travel with such a sound.

   The train rumbled on.

3. Slang.,  to have or take part in a street fight between or among teenage gangs.

   Rival gangs rumbled on Saturday afternoon.

verb (used with object)

rumbled, rumbling 

1. to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound.

   to rumble a command.

2. to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound.

   to rumble a wagon over the ground.

3. to subject to the action of a rumble or tumbling box, as for the purpose of polishing.

noun

1. a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound.

   the rumble of tanks across a bridge.

2. rumble seat.

3. a rear part of a carriage containing seating accommodations, as for servants, or space for baggage.

4. a tumbling box.

5. Slang.,  a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

rumble

/ ˈrʌmbəl /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a deep resonant sound

   thunder rumbled in the sky

2. to move with such a sound

   the train rumbled along

3. (tr) to utter with a rumbling sound

   he rumbled an order

4. (tr) to tumble (metal components, gemstones, etc) in a barrel of smooth stone in order to polish them

5. informal,  (tr) to find out about (someone or something); discover (something)

   the police rumbled their plans

6. slang,  (intr) to be involved in a gang fight

noun

1. a deep resonant sound

2. a widespread murmur of discontent

3. another name for tumbler

4. slang,  a gang fight

Other Word Forms

• rumbler noun
• rumblingly adverb
• rumbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumble¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb romblen, rumblen; compare Dutch rommelen, probably imitative of the sound; 1940–45 rumble for def. 3

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumble¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch rummelen ; related to German rummeln, rumpeln

Example Sentences

The forest rumbles with so much energy that it sounds like living next to a freeway.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They fell silent as an Israeli armored vehicle rumbled past, its antenna swinging above the berm blocking the street.

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She expects the spat will rumble on but said she isn’t worried about it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“They rumble through time. We’re just putting a little bit of paint on some here and there, and maybe a little bit of echo and little bit of that sort of trippy stuff.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then the entire ground starts to rumble, shaking my thoughts from me.

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Related Words

• resound 
• roar