as in purr
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
we heard the hum of an outboard motor and a few minutes later the small craft came into sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hum
Holly Lebowitz Rossi,
Parents,
2 July 2026
Paul walks the cavern’s polished concrete floor, absorbs its hum, grazes its plastic surfaces with his fingertips.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Brynjolfsson is teaching overflow classes about AI and technological progress, as well as running a humming lab tracking AI’s effect on workers, firms, and human welfare.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Noun
From the sparkle of the morning sun to the hum of a bumblebee to the bright sweetness of lemonade, yellow is definitely a summer color.
—
Holly Lebowitz Rossi,
Parents,
2 July 2026
Paul walks the cavern’s polished concrete floor, absorbs its hum, grazes its plastic surfaces with his fingertips.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
Verb
The stock market gains that have helped keep the economy humming have exacerbated the yawning wealth gap.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Brynjolfsson is teaching overflow classes about AI and technological progress, as well as running a humming lab tracking AI’s effect on workers, firms, and human welfare.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.
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That detail has led researchers to wonder whether the purr is partly a self-healing mechanism, a body soothing itself from the inside out.
Verb
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However, the extravagant nature of such spending appears to be a bubble that has now burst, especially given the obvious failure to build a domestic talent pool.
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When fire crews arrived on scene, the fire had consumed multiple rooms and had burst through the roof of one of the three hotel buildings.
Verb
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For the most recent earnings season, these forecasting fruit flies buzzed around modeling 12% earnings growth for the quarter.
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As the train approaches Portland, the view shifts again, with bridges, waterways, and buzzing streets.
Noun
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Test your knowledge of cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.
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Sleep in peace with this tower fan, which is whisper-quiet at 25 decibels.
Verb
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Monday’s home run props will hopefully right the ship and bulge the profits, creating more wiggle room for another drought.
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Schoenaerts menacingly grins his way through the movie, with appealingly bulging eyes.
Verb
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Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
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Returning to the director’s chair 11 years after drug-cartel drama 600 Miles, Gabriel Ripstein keeps things zipping along in an entertaining satire which, once again, highlights the rottenness at international football’s core.
Noun
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All were filled with Chenier’s murmuring accordion, the rustle of a washboard player and slinky grooves.
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Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.
Verb
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But something about the collective excitement of a reunion struck a chord, and the machine started whirring.
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Inside, fans are whirring and a woman behind the cash register speaks on the phone in Korean.
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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