# rumble

/ˈɹəmbəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˈʌmbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rumble
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a low sound

noun · CEFR B2

a low, heavy, and continuous sound, like the sound of thunder or a large truck.

For teachers: a low, heavy, continuous sound, often produced by natural phenomena or heavy machinery.

- We heard the distant rumble of thunder just before the rain started.
- The low rumble of the underground train vibrated through the floorboards of the apartment every twenty minutes.

### 2. a street fight

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a fight between groups of people, usually in the street.

For teachers: a street fight or brawl, typically involving rival gangs or groups.

- The two rival groups met in the park for a rumble at midnight.
- Local authorities were concerned that a minor dispute between the youths would escalate into a full-scale rumble.

### 3. to make a low sound

verb · CEFR B2

to make a deep, heavy, continuous sound.

For teachers: to emit a low, heavy, continuous sound; often used intransitively.

- My stomach started to rumble because I hadn't eaten lunch yet.
- Heavy lorries rumble past the house all night, making it difficult for the residents to sleep soundly.

### 4. to discover the truth

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to find out the truth about someone's secret or dishonest plan.

For teachers: to discover or uncover someone's deceitful behaviour or hidden intentions.

- The police finally rumbled his plan to steal the money.
- He thought he was being clever, but his colleagues soon rumbled what he was actually doing with the company accounts.

Usage: This sense is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the person or the plot being discovered.

## Examples

- We heard the low rumble of thunder in the distance.
- The quiet of the neighborhood was broken by the deep rumble of a heavy truck passing by.
- The film's tension is built through a constant, low-frequency rumble in the soundtrack that creates a sense of impending disaster without showing any immediate danger.

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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.