Standard Lemma guide

hmm

intj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /hm̩/
  • UK, US: [m̥m̩˦˨]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: HH M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

intj

Meaning 1

Indicates thinking or pondering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Hmm... that's an interesting idea.
  • Hmm... I just can't decide between the two.
  • Hmm... creation or evolution? That’s the big question.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Indicates surprise or cluelessness; especially a response by a person who is questioned or addressed when not expecting it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • "You there! Where are you going?" "Hmm? Oh, I just need to get a drink."
  • "Could you pass me the paring knife?" "Hmm? What's a paring knife?"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

intj

Meaning 3

A demand for an answer to a question.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Just where were you until 2 a.m.? Hmm?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Initialism of hidden Markov model.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Topics: computer, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, science, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To make a thoughtful humming noise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See hum.

Across languages

Translations

38 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Ari: rame — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Belarusian: гм (hm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Belarusian: хм (xm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Catalan: hum — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Chinese Cantonese: 唔 (m4) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Chinese Mandarin: 哼 (hēng) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嗯 (ēn) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Chinese Mandarin: 噷 (hm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Czech: hm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Dutch: hm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Esperanto: hm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Finnish: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • French: hum — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Georgian: ჰმ (hm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • German: hm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • German: tja — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Greek: χμ (chm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Italian: mmh — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Italian: uhm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Italian: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Japanese: うーん (ūn) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Japanese: んー (nn) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Japanese: ふむ (fumu) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Japanese: ふむふむ (fumufumu) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Korean: 음 — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Korean: 으음 (eueum) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Malay: hm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Malvi: arroz cocido — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Norwegian: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Polish: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Portuguese: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Portuguese: mmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Russian: хм (xm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Russian: гм (hm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Spanish: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Swedish: hmm — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Ukrainian: хм (xm) — indicating thinking or pondering
  • Ukrainian: гм (hm) — indicating thinking or pondering