noun · verb · 13 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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɜːmə/
British, Southern, Standard:/ˈməːmə/
General-American:/ˈmɝ.mɚ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
New-Zealand, Wales:/ˈmøːmə/
Scotland:/ˈmʌɾməɾ/
/ˈmeːmə/Liverpool, fair–fur merger
/ˈmɛːmə/Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)mə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:M ER1 M ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
1979: A translation of the Eclogues by Paul Alpers The windy murmur of the breeze subsides.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Soft indistinct speech.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
A murmur arose from the audience.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The sound made by any condition which produces a noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: cardiology, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A muttered complaint or protest; the expression of dissatisfaction in a low muttering voice; any expression of complaint or discontent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To grumble; to complain in a low, muttering voice, or express discontent at or against someone or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
I couldn't hear the words; he just murmured a lot.
The bees murmured in the forest. The waves murmured on the shore.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
a schwa that is incidental to the pronunciation of a consonant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: murmur vowel
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: schwa, shwa
9
noun
Meaning 9
a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Middle English murmur, murmor, murmour, from Old French murmure (modern French murmure), from Latin murmur (“murmur, humming, muttering, roaring, growling, rushing etc.”).
Across languages
Translations
171 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
մռմռոց
(mṙmṙocʻ)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Czech:
šumění
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Czech:
šelest
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Esperanto:
susurado
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Esperanto:
murmuro
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
German:
Rauschen
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
German:
Murmeln
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hindi:
मर्मर
(marmar)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hindi:
कल-कल
(kal-kal)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hindi:
बड़बड़ाहट
(baṛabṛāhaṭ)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hungarian:
zörej
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hungarian:
zaj
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Hungarian:
nesz
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Macedonian:
жу́бор
(žúbor)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Māori:
mū
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Russian:
журчание
(žurčánije)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Russian:
шелест
(šélest)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Russian:
шорох
(šórox)
— any low, indistinct, continuing sound
Central Bikol:
ngurubngurob
— low sounds or speech
Bulgarian:
шепот
(šepot)
— low sounds or speech
Catalan:
mormoleig
— low sounds or speech
Catalan:
murmuri
— low sounds or speech
Catalan:
remor
— low sounds or speech
Czech:
šepot
— low sounds or speech
Czech:
šeptání
— low sounds or speech
Danish:
mumlen
— low sounds or speech
Dutch:
geroezemoes
— low sounds or speech
Finnish:
mumina
— low sounds or speech
Finnish:
mutina
— low sounds or speech
Finnish:
kohina
— low sounds or speech
French:
murmure
— low sounds or speech
French:
rumeur
— low sounds or speech
German:
Gemurmel
— low sounds or speech
German:
Murmeln
— low sounds or speech
German:
Raunen
— low sounds or speech
Greek:
μουρμουρητό
(mourmouritó)
— low sounds or speech
Greek:
μουρμούρισμα
(mourmoúrisma)
— low sounds or speech
Ancient Greek:
θρῦλος
(thrûlos)
— low sounds or speech
Hungarian:
mormolás
— low sounds or speech
Italian:
mormorio
— low sounds or speech
Italian:
brusio
— low sounds or speech
Italian:
sussurro
— low sounds or speech
Latin:
murmur
— low sounds or speech
Macedonian:
ше́пот
(šépot)
— low sounds or speech
Māori:
wawaro
— low sounds or speech
Māori:
warowaro
— low sounds or speech
Māori:
hiarea
— low sounds or speech
Persian:
زمزمه
(zemzeme)
— low sounds or speech
Polish:
pomruk
— low sounds or speech
Polish:
mruczenie
— low sounds or speech
Portuguese:
murmúrio
— low sounds or speech
Romanian:
freamăt
— low sounds or speech
Russian:
бормота́ние
(bormotánije)
— low sounds or speech
