rumbled; rumbling
ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to make a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbling in the distance
2
: to travel with a low reverberating sound
wagons rumbled into town
3
: to speak in a low rolling tone
4
: to engage in a rumble
1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British
: to reveal or discover the true character of
1
a
: a low heavy continuous reverberating often muffled sound (as of thunder)
b
: low frequency noise in phonographic playback caused by the transmission of mechanical vibrations by the turntable to the pickup
2
: a seat for servants behind the body of a carriage
3
a
: widespread expression of dissatisfaction or unrest
b
: a street fight especially among gangs
Examples of rumble in a Sentence
Verb
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
The train rumbles through town twice a day.
We watched as the trucks rumbled past.
The gangs rumbled in the alley.
Noun
I was awakened by the rumble of a train passing by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025
He’s manifested these through violin, piccolo, glockenspiel, and rumbling percussion suggestive of rolling surf, lighting strikes, and thunder.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
Outside the aid station, the distant rumble of outgoing artillery fire echoed through the night.
—Olha Konovalova, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
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Verb
Amidst tornadoes and other severe weather, a 3.0 earthquake rumbled Magee, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon, southeast of Jackson.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025
He’s manifested these through violin, piccolo, glockenspiel, and rumbling percussion suggestive of rolling surf, lighting strikes, and thunder.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
If SpaceX gets its way, the Space Coast will get a lot more rocket rumbles and sonic booms as the company increases Falcon 9 launches and builds out new landing pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
Outside the aid station, the distant rumble of outgoing artillery fire echoed through the night.
—Olha Konovalova, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
Cite this Entry
“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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