mumble

mum·ble

Use mumble in a sentence

noun

The definition of a mumble is something spoken in a low voice.
An example of a mumble is how a shy child responds to a question.

verb

To mumble is to speak in a low voice that is often difficult to understand.
An example of mumble is to answer a question in a low voice or without clearly sounding out the words.

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MLA Style

"mumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble>.

APA Style

mumble. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble

mumble

transitive verb

intransitive verb

-·bled, -·bling

to speak or say indistinctly and in a low voice, as with the mouth partly closed; mutter
Rare to chew gently and ineffectively, as with toothless gums

Origin of mumble

Middle English momelen, like German mummeln, Dutch mommelen, of echoic origin, originally

a mumbled sound or utterance

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"mumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble>.

APA Style

mumble. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble

mumble

verb

mum·bled, mum·bling, mum·bles

verb

transitive

To utter indistinctly by lowering the voice or partially closing the mouth: mumbled an insincere apology.
To chew slowly or ineffectively without or as if without teeth.

verb

intransitive

To speak words indistinctly, as by lowering the voice or partially closing the mouth.
To chew food slowly or ineffectively, as if with the gums.

noun

A low indistinct sound or utterance.

Origin of mumble

Middle English momelen from Middle Dutch mommelen

Related Forms:

mum′bler
noun

mum′bly
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"mumble." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble>.

APA Style

mumble. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mumble

Verb

(third-person singular simple present mumbles, present participle mumbling, simple past and past participle mumbled)

(intransitive) To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better.
To chew something gently with closed lips.

Noun

(plural mumbles)