verb
C2
Proficient
babble
BAB-l
Babble (verb) means to talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow. Example: “He babbled nervously through the entire interview.”
verb
1
To talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow.
"He babbled nervously through the entire interview."
"The toddler babbled happily in her crib."
2
To let slip a secret by talking carelessly.
"She babbled the surprise party plans to the wrong person."
noun
1
Rapid, unclear, or meaningless talk.
"All I heard through the wall was a babble of voices."
How to use babble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo talk fast and unclearly, or (for a baby) to make speech-like sounds before real words come.
Common mistake
Not related to the biblical Babel, despite the similar sound and shared theme of confused speech.
Common pairings
babble on
babble incoherently
a babble of voices
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Word forms
- Plural
- babbles
- Third person singular
- babbles
- Past tense
- babbled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ nervously through the entire interview.
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "to chatter", likely imitating the repetitive sounds of infant speech (compare "baby").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for babble
See all rhymes for babble →Frequently asked questions
What does “babble” mean?
The word “babble” means to talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow. In plain terms, to talk fast and unclearly, or (for a baby) to make speech-like sounds before real words come.
How do you pronounce “babble”?
“Babble” is pronounced BAB-l (/ˈbæb.(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “babble” in a sentence?
Here is “babble” used in a sentence: “He babbled nervously through the entire interview.”
What part of speech is “babble”?
Depending on how it is used, “babble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “babble” come from?
The word “babble” comes from Old English. From Old English roots meaning "to chatter", likely imitating the repetitive sounds of infant speech (compare "baby").
How many meanings does “babble” have?
“Babble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow.
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