rumble

[ ruhm-buhl ]

/ ˈrʌm bəl /

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See synonyms for: rumble / rumbling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), rum·bled, rum·bling.

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

to move or travel with such a sound: The train rumbled on.

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), rum·bled, rum·bling.

to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound: to rumble a command.

to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound: to rumble a wagon over the ground.

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

noun

a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound: the rumble of tanks across a bridge.

rumble seat.

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

a tumbling box.

Slang. a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

OTHER WORDS FOR rumble

1 roar, thunder, roll, boom.

See synonyms for rumble on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of rumble

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

OTHER WORDS FROM rumble

rumbler, nounrum·bling·ly, adverb

Words nearby rumble

rumaki, rumal, Rumania, Rumanian, rumba, rumble, rumble seat, rumble strip, rumbling, rumbly, rumbustious

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

How to use rumble in a sentence

Sounds can travel around the entire room, and low-frequency rumbles translate to a higher degree with the use of subwoofers.
Best soundbar: immersive sound for your home entertainment center|PopSci Commerce Team|December 18, 2020|Popular-Science
As Wellsandt-Zell led those mourning Timmins in the hymn “Jesus Loves Me,” the rumble of an approaching helicopter cut through the sound of the singing and the mourners’ soft tears.
A rural S.D. community ignored the virus for months. Then people started dying.|Annie Gowen|December 9, 2020|Washington Post
It replaces the clunky rumble of previous generations with a targeted haptic feedback system made up of tiny, strategically-placed vibrating actuators.
The 100 greatest innovations of 2020|Popular Science Staff|December 2, 2020|Popular-Science
You might have to say goodbye to the aural ecstasy found in the heartbeat-like bass drum or lose the low rumble of your favorite beatmakers' best drones.
Best Bluetooth speakers: Five things to consider|Carsen Joenk|November 24, 2020|Popular-Science

Their lowest notes were also higher compared to country birds in nearby Marin County because they needed to be heard above the low rumble of traffic.
Bird songs got sexier during the COVID-19 shutdown|Ula Chrobak|September 24, 2020|Popular-Science
Over the past week, Sony Pictures Entertainment has received more body blows than Muhammad Ali during the Rumble in the Jungle.
Sony: Hollywood’s Most Subversive Studio Under Attack|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His target splits with a satisfying rumble, and then the fragments detonate as he strafes them with more bullets.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Artillery and mortar duels all around the outskirts of Donetsk rumble angrily every day.
Should the U.S. Arm Ukraine’s Militias?|Jamie Dettmer|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As we approach the rumble of guns grows louder and alternates with the whir of cannonballs, which begin to attract his attention.
How Clausewitz Invented Modern War|James A. Warren|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Massive trucks 20 feet tall rumble into the mine empty and return with 400 tons of tar sand.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The fire along the three miles front is like the rumble of an express train running over fog signals.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
But the rumble of distant guns told the destroyer that his short-lived hour of triumph was nearly sped.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Being so tall, he just managed to reach those of Susan, as she stood up in the rumble.
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
"Here are our canteens," he went on excitedly, picking both of the gasoline-cans out of the rumble.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Over me, away off, as if from the heavens, I heard a sonorous rumble of mystery words.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for rumble

rumble

/ (ˈrʌmbəl) /

verb

to make or cause to make a deep resonant soundthunder rumbled in the sky

to move with such a soundthe train rumbled along

(tr) to utter with a rumbling soundhe rumbled an order

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

(tr) British informal to find out about (someone or something); discover (something)the police rumbled their plans

(intr) US slang to be involved in a gang fight

noun

a deep resonant sound

a widespread murmur of discontent

another name for tumbler (def. 4)

US, Canadian and NZ slang a gang fight

Derived forms of rumble

rumbler, nounrumbling, adjectiverumblingly, adverb

Word Origin for rumble

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

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

rumble

OTHER WORDS FOR rumble

Origin of rumble

OTHER WORDS FROM rumble

Words nearby rumble

Words related to rumble

How to use rumble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rumble

Derived forms of rumble

Word Origin for rumble