noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

murmur

MUR-muh

Murmur (noun) means a soft, low, indistinct sound. Example: “A murmur of conversation drifted from the next room.”

noun

A soft, low, indistinct sound.

"A murmur of conversation drifted from the next room."

"She could hear the murmur of the river outside her window."

An unusual sound made by blood flowing through the heart, sometimes signaling a heart condition.

"The doctor detected a faint heart murmur during the checkup."

verb

To speak in a low, quiet, and hard-to-make-out voice.

"He murmured an apology and left the room."

"The crowd murmured in disapproval."

How to use murmur

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft, unclear sound, or the act of speaking that way.

Common pairings

a murmur of voices murmur softly heart murmur

Word forms

murmured past tense, murmurs plural, murmurs singular

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A _____ of conversation drifted from the next room.

Etymology

From Old French murmure, from Latin murmur, an imitative word for a low humming or rumbling sound.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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murmuration susurration susurrus

Antonyms

din silence

Related words

still talk sound noise silence DIN hush whispering

Frequently asked questions

What does “murmur” mean?

The word “murmur” means a soft, low, indistinct sound. In plain terms, a soft, unclear sound, or the act of speaking that way.

How do you pronounce “murmur”?

“Murmur” is pronounced MUR-muh (/ˈmɝ.mɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “murmur” in a sentence?

Here is “murmur” used in a sentence: “A murmur of conversation drifted from the next room.”

What is another word for “murmur”?

Words with a similar meaning to “murmur” include murmuration, susurration and susurrus.

What is the opposite of “murmur”?

The opposite of “murmur” — its antonyms — are din and silence.

What part of speech is “murmur”?

Depending on how it is used, “murmur” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “murmur” come from?

The word “murmur” comes from Latin. From Old French murmure, from Latin murmur, an imitative word for a low humming or rumbling sound.

How many meanings does “murmur” have?

“Murmur” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, low, indistinct sound.

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