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Synonyms

um

American  
[uhm, uhn, uhm, uhn] / ʌm, ʌ̃, əm, ə̃ /
Or umm

interjection

  1. (used as an expression of doubt, hesitation, deliberation, interest, etc.)

um 1 British  
/ ʌm, əm /

interjection

  1. a representation of a common sound made when hesitating in speech

"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
um 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. US Minor Outlying Islands

"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

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.

"Um, it's hard to explain. Um, um, uh, a world tour. I'm Justin Timberlake," the star says.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

But let’s say you’re having date-night with your car, and you want to make it feel, um, pretty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Today: The number claiming Social Security is … um … 70.2 million.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

“It was largely about having that reminder of this feeling of being in the audience,” Styles told Mayer of his time spent, um, researching.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

“Sounds fun. By the way, thanks for showing me the Hideout. And, um, for letting me into your friend group. I was really nervous my first day at the bus stop.”

From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.