# babble

/ˈbæbəɫ/ (US) · /bˈæbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/babble
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a lot of words that are hard to understand because they are spoken too fast or are not clear. It can also describe the sound of water or the way a baby talks before they know real words.

For teachers: a mass of confused, unintelligible, or meaningless sounds or words. Often refers to the incoherent speech of a child or the rapid, unintelligible speech of an adult.

## Examples

- The background babble of the crowd made it hard to hear.
- Despite the constant babble of the radio in the background, she managed to finish her report on time.
- The poet used the rhythmic babble of the river to mirror the chaotic thoughts of the protagonist as he wandered through the city at night.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.