What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
growling
Example
The dog started growling at the stranger. [growling: verb]
Example
I haven't eaten all day, my stomach is growling. [growling: present participle]
rumbling
Example
The rumbling of the thunder could be heard from miles away. [rumbling: noun]
Example
The truck's engine was rumbling loudly. [rumbling: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rumbling is more commonly used than growling in everyday language. Rumbling is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while growling is less common and refers to specific animal or human sounds.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between growling and rumbling?
Both growling and rumbling are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
