noun
babbling
Babbling (noun) means the stage in early childhood when infants experiment with speech-like sounds before forming real words. Example: “By six months, babies typically move into the babbling stage.”
noun
1
The stage in early childhood when infants experiment with speech-like sounds before forming real words.
"By six months, babies typically move into the babbling stage."
2
Rapid, meaningless, or hard-to-follow talk.
"He tuned out her babbling and stared at his phone."
adj
1
Making a continuous soft murmuring sound.
"They camped beside a babbling brook."
How to use babbling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the baby-talk stage before real words, meaningless chatter, or the soft sound of running water.
Common pairings
babbling brook
babbling stage
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Word forms
- Plural
- babblings
- Comparative
- more babbling
- Superlative
- most babbling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
By six months, babies typically move into the _____ stage.
Etymology
Comes from Middle English bablyng, babelynge, equivalent to babble + -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for babbling
See all rhymes for babbling →Frequently asked questions
What does “babbling” mean?
The word “babbling” means the stage in early childhood when infants experiment with speech-like sounds before forming real words. In plain terms, either the baby-talk stage before real words, meaningless chatter, or the soft sound of running water.
How do you use “babbling” in a sentence?
Here is “babbling” used in a sentence: “By six months, babies typically move into the babbling stage.”
What part of speech is “babbling”?
Depending on how it is used, “babbling” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “babbling” have?
“Babbling” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the stage in early childhood when infants experiment with speech-like sounds before forming real words.
