humming

[ huhm-ing ]

/ ˈhʌm ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR humming ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

making a droning sound; buzzing.

very busy; briskly active: a humming office.

Origin of humming

First recorded in 1570–80; hum + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM humming

hum·ming·ly, adverb

Words nearby humming

humism, humiture, hummable, hummel, hummer, humming, humming top, hummingbird, hummingbird moth, hummock, hummus

Definition for humming (2 of 2)

hum

[ huhm ]

/ hʌm /

verb (used without object), hummed, hum·ming.

to make a low, continuous, droning sound.

to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.

to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.; hem.

to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.

to be in a state of busy activity: The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.

British Slang. to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.

verb (used with object), hummed, hum·ming.

to sound, sing, or utter by humming: to hum a tune.

to bring, put, etc., by humming: to hum a child to sleep.

noun

the act or sound of humming; an inarticulate or indistinct murmur; hem.

Audio. an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.

interjection

(an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

Origin of hum

1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; cf. humblebee

SYNONYMS FOR hum

5 bustle, buzz.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR hum ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM hum

un·der·hum, noun

Example sentences from the Web for humming

It starts off like any other Lana tune, replete with minor chords and humming, distorted vocals.

The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More |Marlow Stern |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I hear him humming—a long, flat note, more electric than musical.

Pete Dexter’s Indelible Portrait of Author Norman Maclean |Pete Dexter |March 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“Keep me coming, keep me going, keep me humming, keep me moaning,” she pleads in the chorus.

‘Beyoncé’ Review: Genius…and Dripping of Sex |Kevin Fallon |December 13, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Grant thought the humming was simply designed to help Luther get the right feel on the song.

Excerpts From a New Johnny Cash Biography Capture His Iconoclastic Genius |Robert Hilburn |October 26, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

As we marched out into the night, a French journalist started bouncing on his heels, humming the Halo theme song.

War Games: Microsoft Invades Liechtenstein for Halo 4 Blowout |Alex Klein |November 8, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The growl is in fact no other than the humming note of bull-roarers swung by men, who are concealed within the edifice.

The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) |Sir James George Frazer
Now I must stop because I hear the humming of the harpoons on the outside.

The Silly Syclopedia |Noah Lott
Humming and strumming, and singing and smoking, splashing, and sparkling; a buzz of voices and booming of sea!

The Open Air |Richard Jefferies
When at work he is in the habit of humming various tunes without being conscious of it.

Methods of Authors |Hugo Erichsen
It really was humming stuff, but John well knew how proud Iden was of it, and how much he liked to hear it praised.

Amaryllis at the Fair |Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for humming

hum

/ (hʌm) /

verb hums, humming or hummed

(intr) to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m

(intr) (of a person) to sing with the lips closed

(intr) to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem

(intr) informal to be in a state of feverish activity

(intr) British and Irish slang to smell unpleasant

(intr) Australian slang to scrounge

hum and haw See hem 2 (def. 3)

noun

a low continuous murmuring sound

electronics an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply

Australian slang a scrounger; cadger

British and Irish slang an unpleasant odour

interjection, noun

an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

Derived forms of hum

hummer, noun

Word Origin for hum

C14: of imitative origin; compare Dutch hommelen, Old High German humbal bumblebee

Medical definitions for humming

hum

[ hŭm ]

n.

A low, continuous murmur blended of many sounds.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

humming

adjective

Origin of humming

OTHER WORDS FROM humming

Words nearby humming

Definition for humming (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), hummed, hum·ming.

verb (used with object), hummed, hum·ming.

noun

interjection

Origin of hum

SYNONYMS FOR hum

OTHER WORDS FROM hum

Example sentences from the Web for humming

British Dictionary definitions for humming

verb hums, humming or hummed

noun

interjection, noun

Derived forms of hum

Word Origin for hum

Medical definitions for humming

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

humming

adjective

Origin of humming

OTHER WORDS FROM humming

Words nearby humming

Definition for humming (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), hummed, hum·ming.

verb (used with object), hummed, hum·ming.

noun

interjection

Origin of hum

SYNONYMS FOR hum

OTHER WORDS FROM hum

Words related to humming

Example sentences from the Web for humming

British Dictionary definitions for humming

verb hums, humming or hummed

noun

interjection, noun

Derived forms of hum

Word Origin for hum

Medical definitions for humming

n.