rumbling

American

[ruhm-bling] / ˈrʌm blɪŋ /

noun

Often rumblings. the first signs of dissatisfaction or grievance.
rumble.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

rumblings

plural

Etymology

Origin of rumbling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rumble, -ing ¹

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.

Rumbling in from the Nursery End, nipping the ball down the slope to left-hander Devon Conway.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Rumbling sounds, cloudy water and leaks are other signs to replace soon.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

Rumbling pumps and tanks filled with sand, separated from the fish tanks by a soundproof wall, treated wastewater that had been stripped of fish poop.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 9, 2023

Rumbling with trucks and local traffic, it literally cuts Monet’s gardens in half.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2016

Rumbling down the mountain on the school bus beside Howard.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023