Word
mumble
Phoneticsmum·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈməmbəɫ/
UK/mˈʌmbəl/
Definition
n. a low, unclear sound that is hard to understand. You use this when someone is speaking too quietly or too fast to be heard clearly.
n. a low, indistinct, or unintelligible sound, typically resulting from speech that is too quiet or too fast.
Examples
“I could hear his mumble from across the room.”
“The professor's mumble about the exam schedule was barely audible over the noise of the fans.”
“The witness's mumble was the only evidence the jury had regarding the suspect's presence at the scene, though it was difficult to determine if he was speaking to himself or to a companion.”
Examples
simple
“I could hear his mumble from across the room.”
contextual
“The professor's mumble about the exam schedule was barely audible over the noise of the fans.”
complex
“The witness's mumble was the only evidence the jury had regarding the suspect's presence at the scene, though it was difficult to determine if he was speaking to himself or to a companion.”
Etymology
From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/mumble