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
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
Factories are humming again in towns once written off.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
That story, like so many moments in this city’s layered history, seemed to hum in 3/4 time.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
Think mountain towns that hum in winter and hibernate in summer (hello, ski resorts turned hiking paradises).
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Verb
The airport will have to operate all of that time, of course, and job one for McMurray will be to keep things humming with minimal disruption to travelers.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
Factories are humming again in towns once written off.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
That story, like so many moments in this city’s layered history, seemed to hum in 3/4 time.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
Think mountain towns that hum in winter and hibernate in summer (hello, ski resorts turned hiking paradises).
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum
Noun
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The three of them shared head bonks, muzzle rubs, purrs, and cuddling!!—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Seely’s voice brings in a slice of gritty wisdom, Dasher’s vocal purrs with sweetness, while Dasher offers up both humor and wit.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Broadcast integrations included Stitch bursting onto the sets of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and SportsCenter.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 May 2025
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The appendix can burst within 24 hours or less of symptoms starting.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
17 May 2025
Verb
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May 25, 2025 Read more: Pacers Legend Reveals Major Criticism for Tyrese Haliburton After Game 3 Loss Fans have been buzzing about the video and getting a good laugh out of it.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
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The past few days also buzzed with celebrity appearances across the globe.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 May 2025
Noun
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There are no tanks on the streets or intelligence agents stamping out whispers of dissent.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
29 May 2025
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One legend says workers found fake coins during excavations on the site; others hold whispers of kings, assassinations and shady land ownership.—
Lily Radziemski,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Photos posted online showed the snake arrived at a Virginia animal hospital with a bulging body.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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This week, they’re dominated by the moon, which enters its bulging gibbous phase in advance of next week’s full strawberry moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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The usual rustles—of people shifting in their chairs, reaching for water bottles, pulling out cellphones, or opening laptops to check email—stopped cold.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Mar. 2019
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Somehow, this shell also manages to be bizarrely soft on the skin with almost no rustle.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But where are the best spots to zip around on a motorboat or charter a yacht?—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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They were last seen zipping east on Lorraine St. EMS rushed the bus driver to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he was treated for a minor injury, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Verb
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As a three-hour program — Knight opened at 7 p.m. on the dot — Sunday’s show moved quickly, with a rotating stage that whirred to life after each woman’s set.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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The Orb’s cameras whirred for a minute, capturing my iris’s texture.—
Jason Henry,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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