Home Synonyms hum

Synonyms of hum in English:

hum


See US English definition of hum

See UK English definition of hum

See Spanish definition of tararear

verb

1‘the engine was humming and ready to go’

SYNONYMS
purr, whir, throb, vibrate, murmur, buzz, thrum, drone
literary susurrate, bombinate

2‘humming a tune’

SYNONYMS
sing, croon, murmur, drone

3‘the repair shops are humming as the tradesmen set about their various tasks’

SYNONYMS
be busy, be active, be lively, buzz, bustle, be bustling, be a hive of activity, throb, vibrate, pulsate, pulse
ANTONYMS

be quiet

4‘when the wind drops this stuff really hums’

SYNONYMS
smell, stink, stink to high heaven, reek, have a bad smell, be malodorous
British informal pong

noun

1‘a low hum of conversation’

SYNONYMS
murmur, murmuring, drone, droning, vibration, purr, purring, buzz, buzzing, whir, whirring, throb, throbbing, thrum, thrumming
literary susurration, susurrus, bombination

Phrases

    hum and haw

    ‘they waste a lot of time humming and hawing before going into action’


    SYNONYMS
    be indecisive, hesitate, dither, vacillate, procrastinate, equivocate, prevaricate, waver, falter, fluctuate
    British haver
    Scottish swither
    informal shilly-shally, dilly-dally, blow hot and cold, pussyfoot around
    archaic, literary tarry
    ANTONYMS

    be decisive