rumbling

[ruhm-bling]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rumbling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Often rumblings. the first signs of dissatisfaction or grievance.

rumble(def 7).

Origin of rumbling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rumble, -ing¹

rumble

[ruhm-buhl]

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.

Origin of rumble

1325–75; 1940–45 for def 3; (v.) Middle English romblen, rumblen; compare Dutch rommelen, probably of imitative orig.; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.

Related formsrum·bler, nounrum·bling·ly, adverb

Synonyms for rumble

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rumble ON THESAURUS.COM

1. roar, thunder, roll, boom.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for rumbling

roar, resound, grumble, boom, roll

Examples from the Web for rumbling

Contemporary Examples of rumbling

At the beginning there is a rumbling sound that seems to be feedback.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs
Allen Barra
November 17, 2014
They were rumbling past the square on their way back to their college when Pineda is said to have given her order.
Mexico’s First Lady of Murder Is on the Lam
Michael Daly
October 29, 2014
School-age children with rumbling tummies move their styrofoam trays in an orderly lunch line.
The Schools That Starve Students to Punish Deadbeat Parents
Brandy Zadrozny
January 30, 2014
Pizza Hut Middle East hopes to keep your stomach from rumbling with “Kit Kat Pops”, aka Kit Kat candy bars wrapped in pizza dough.
A Chocolate-Dipped Potato Chip and More Crazy Food Creations
Alice Robinson
November 7, 2013
“Awful Sound” begins in a minor key, with a clackety, rumbling beat.
‘Reflektor’ Makes Arcade Fire the Biggest Band in the World
Andrew Romano
October 29, 2013

Historical Examples of rumbling

In the next room the voices of the four were a steady, rumbling murmur.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
The thunder was not loud, but it kept up a continuous muttering and rumbling.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
The train was rumbling slowly along, the night darkening down.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill
All one spring-time their love thus filled Goujet with the rumbling of a storm.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
Rumbling in his ears was the sound of the blast that had overwhelmed him.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930
Various

British Dictionary definitions for rumbling

rumble

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 Formsrumbler, 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

Word Origin and History for rumbling

rumble

late 14c., "make a deep, heavy, continuous sound," also "move with a rolling, thundering sound," also "create disorder and confusion," probably related to Middle Dutch rommelen "to rumble," Middle High German rummeln, Old Norse rymja "to shout, roar," all of imitative origin. Related: Rumbled; rumbling.

rumble

late 14c., from rumble (v.). Slang noun meaning "gang fight" is from 1946. Meaning "backmost part of a carriage" is from 1808 (earlier rumbler, 1801), probably from the effect of sitting over the wheels; hence rumble seat (1828).