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rumbling

rumbling

2 3.2
Making a deep low sound that you can feel
  • adjective
  • /ˈrʌmblɪŋ/
translation icon : retumbante
  • The judge's voice was a steady, rumbling growl.
  • rumbling sound
  • rumbling voice
  • deep, rumbling

I'm not a tenuous tightrope Walker in my eternal fall, dancing on the rumbling air of delirious, furious Thunder.

Examples

  • Just as Sammy was about to nod off into dreamland, he heard a deep, rumbling, visceral sound from C.R.'s side of the room.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Can anyone hear a curious rumbling sound that appears to be coming from the west?

  • His heartbeat, against which I, a little itchingly, was held, was loudly rhythmic; and over it, his breathing is like the whispery, almost rumbling sound when I drive in the car with him on the spans of a high bridge over the river.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Just as Sammy was about to nod off into dreamland, he heard a deep, rumbling, visceral sound from C.R.'s side of the room.

  • The voice had a deep, rumbling echo to it that I felt more than I heard.

Synonyms

roaring
vsrumbling
30 3.4

A deep loud sound like an animal or thunder

is less forceful and more continuous and low pitched
thunderous
vsrumbling
15 4.1

A very loud, deep sound like thunder

is milder, focusing on steady low pitch rather than extreme loudness
booming
vsrumbling
3 3.4

A deep loud voice or sound that echoes

is less loud and more continuously low and throbbing
rumbly
vsrumbling
2 5.5

Making a low, deep sound like distant thunder or a hungry stomach

is more neutral and often has a throbbing quality
growly
vsrumbling
1 5.7

Making a low rough sound like a dog or bear

is usually less rough and more steady and throbbing
rolling
vsrumbling
1 3.7

A deep continuous sound like thunder or large bells

is more focused on a steady low throbbing tone
grumbling
vsrumbling
3.7

A deep, low, continuous sound like a distant rumble

is more about steady throbbing than general fullness
thundering
vsrumbling
3.2

Making a very loud deep rumbling sound like a storm

is lower in volume and more steady and throbbing

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

How Deep

thunderous
15 4.1
booming
3 3.4
rumbling
2 3.2
low
721 1.8

Surface Forms

rumbling positive

Morphology

rumbling = rumble (transparent) = rumble + ing

Standard participial/derivational adjective formed from 'rumble' + '-ing', so the adjectival meaning ('continuous, deep, low-pitched') is directly predictable.

Etymology

The adjective rumbling comes from the sound word rumble, which tries to copy a continuous, low noise like 'growl' or 'boom'. So when something is rumbling it makes a deep, low, often throbbing sound.