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murmuring

murmuring

4.7
Making a low continuous sound like soft voices or gentle waves
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɜrmərɪŋ/
translation icon : susurrante
  • The murmuring river soothed her as she walked along its banks.

Examples

  • In the forest, a murmuring wind passed gently through the tall trees.

  • He heard murmuring voices in the quiet library, barely above a whisper.

  • The murmuring stream was soothing.

  • I could hear the murmuring of the crowd.

  • He heard murmuring voices in the quiet library, barely above a whisper.

  • The murmuring river soothed her as she walked along its banks.

  • In the forest, a murmuring wind passed gently through the tall trees.

Synonyms

to rumble
vsmurmuring
  • Literature
84 2.5

To make a low, deep, continuous sound

is quieter and more delicate, lacking deep resonance and strong vibration
to hum
vsmurmuring
49 1.0

Make a low steady sound like a machine

is more organic and indistinct rather than steady mechanical background noise
to buzz
vsmurmuring
42 1.1

To make a low steady sound like a bee

is softer and less vibrating, more like indistinct soft voices or waves
to murmur
vsmurmuring
11 4.2

To speak in a low, quiet voice, often to complain or say something softly

is the general low continuous sound rather than specifically soft speech
to grumble
vsmurmuring
7 3.7

To make a long low sound like distant thunder

is lighter and more gently indistinct rather than heavy or gruff
to babble
vsmurmuring
2 4.2

Make a soft bubbling sound as water moves over stones

is similar but covers nonwater sounds as well, not only bubbling flow
to drone
vsmurmuring
1 5.8

To make a long low steady sound

is softer and more indistinct, not necessarily dull or monotone
to whisper through
vsmurmuring
  • Literature
1 4.2

A soft quiet sound that moves through things like wind in grass

is the general low continuous sound not tied to passing movement
to sough
vsmurmuring
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A soft, low sighing sound made by wind or water

is broader, covering many low continuous sounds beyond wind or air
susurrant
vsmurmuring
  • Literature
9.9

A soft whispering sound that continues quietly

is a more general low continuous sound rather than a rustling whisper
to susurrate
vsmurmuring
  • Literature
9.9

To make a soft whispering or rustling sound like leaves

is wider and covers many low continuous sounds, not only leaflike rustles
whispering
vsmurmuring
3.0

Making a low, soft continuous sound like wind or water

is broader and applies to many soft continuous background sounds
soughing
vsmurmuring
  • Archaic
9.9

A soft rustling sound that wind makes in trees or leaves

is the general low indistinct sound, not only wind or trees

How Loud

to roar
98 1.0
to hum
49 1.0
murmuring
4.7
to whisper
586 1.0

Surface Forms

murmuring positive

Morphology

murmuring = murmur (transparent) = murmur + ing

The adjective is the present-participial use of the verb 'murmur' formed with -ing, so the sound-related meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Murmuring comes from the Latin word murmur, which copies the soft, repeating sound 'murmur' and shares this root with the English murmur. So, if something is murmuring, it is making a low, ongoing sound like soft voices or a gentle river.