HUM Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

hum 1 of 2

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm

as in to burst

to be copiously supplied one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to buzz

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound a helicopter hummed overhead

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hum

Verb

The powerplay was humming along at 25.8 percent, good for second in the circuit, and was also second on the road at an impressive 30.6. —

Tom Layberger, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Trump imposed major tariffs on China, and the economy hummed along. —

Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025 The path to healing often reveals itself not through knowing, but through doing what feels intuitively right in the moment—whether that's reaching out to a neighbor, humming a familiar tune, or simply stepping into the sunshine. —

Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 Californians are working at a near-historic rate and nearly every metric shows that the state’s economy is humming. —

Heath Flora, Orange County Register, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum

Noun

Over a plate of fries, Alaska spoke in her signature bass purr about the meaning of family and the merits of drag.

— Lanna Apisukh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Stocking Stuffers Under $30 Cat lovers will purr over these adorable bowls.

— Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2024