# mum

/ˈməm/ (US) · /mˈʌm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mum
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 3. silent

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

staying quiet or keeping a secret.

For teachers: remaining silent or refractive to disclosure; typically used in the fixed phrase 'mum's the word'.

- I promised to keep mum about the surprise party until Saturday.
- The witnesses decided to keep mum during the initial investigation, fearing that any statement might lead to further complications.

Usage: Commonly follows the verb 'keep'.

## Examples

- I need to call my mum to say happy birthday.
- After the school play finished, the young boy ran straight to his mum for a hug.
- While formal documents require the term 'mother', most children and adults in the UK refer to their female parent as 'mum' in daily conversation.

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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.