hmm
∞
8.7
- interjection
- /hɪm/
- Informal
:
mmm
- hmm, let me think about that for a moment.
And then she stands up and she goes, hmm, I don't get it.
- And then she stands up and she goes, hmm, I don't get it.
- I mean, you can't you can't be like, hmm, what is this?
- You can't. You solve nothing. Hmm. Energy flows to and through us
- but I should have known myself better than that. Hmm, OK,
- That's your contemplation? You're supposed to go, hmm, where did that particle go?
- And I was like, hmm, OK, I can roll with this.
- Is that that like, hmm, bumpy heavy, like bass heavy sound.
- Everybody was sat there and my nose kept on, hmm, there's that smell.
- And I was like, hmm, a little scripted almost.
- And my students, the MBA students are the ones to say, hmm, that's interesting.
- And at that time I was like, hmm, that doesn't sound that convincing.
Examples
-
"Confused, I found myself nodding and saying, "Hmmm, how interesting," while thinking, "What does she mean by 'soft'?"
Academic text (2014) -
I don't get involved, except I can sort of see her point, so I say, "Hmm."
Fiction book (1993) -
And I was like, hmm, I could do at this.
-
And I was like, hmm, OK, I can roll with this.
-
That would be nice. Yeah. Very cool though. Hmm. I mean, we
-
Hmm, so what did our dear old Jennifer say to you, exactly?
-
And then I was like, hmm, maybe she's right.
-
And my students, the MBA students are the ones to say, hmm, that's interesting.
-
Anyone who can read this and not think, hmmm, maybe she's onto something, is sleeping.
Blog text (3) -
And as for your blog name: hmmmm I am so uncreative, so I have no ideas.
Blog text (1)
Synonyms
∞
7.3
A short sound people make when they hesitate while speaking
∞
4.1
A short sound people say when they pause to think
744
2.4
A short sound people make when they hesitate or think
384
9.5
A sound people make when they think or hesitate
96
8.8
A short sound people make when they pause to think
41
9.5
A sound people use when they hesitate or are unsure
35
9.8
A short sound people make when they pause to think
17
9.9
A sound people make when they hesitate while speaking
5
8.7
A short sound people make when they pause to think while speaking
3
9.9
A sound people make when they hesitate or think
1
9.9
A low sound people make while thinking or hesitating
1
9.9
A low sound showing thought or hesitation before answering
Antonyms
How Hesitant
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hmm is a soft sound people make, like a quiet hum, when they are thinking or unsure. So saying hmm shows hesitation or that you are 'thinking'.