Synonyms

um

American

[uhm, uhn, uhm, uhn] / ʌm, ʌ̃, əm, ə̃ /

Or umm

interjection

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

um ¹ British

/ ʌm, əm /

interjection

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

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.

"We didn't know what was going on," said Um Azzam al-Zaim, whose relative was visiting her for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

It’s emblazoned right on the welcome mat: Um estilo de vida.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

While Um, the California financial planner, had a personal-loan success story with one client, it didn’t work out so well for another.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Um . . . there are no dragons in this show.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2026

"Um," Mindy said, "I'm Mindy Park. I work in SatCon."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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

um

interjection

interjection

abbreviation

Example Sentences

Related Words