murmur

[ˈmɜːmə(r)]

murmur Definition

• 1. a low, continuous sound, especially one that is not loud enough to be clearly heard
• 2. to speak or say something in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand

Using murmur: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "murmur" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The only sound was the murmur of the river.

• Example

  She murmured her thanks and left the room.

• Example

  He was murmuring sweet nothings in her ear.

• Example

  The crowd began to murmur in disapproval.

murmur Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for murmur

• mutter
• whisper
• mumble
• grumble
• gurgle

Antonyms for murmur

• shout
• roar
• yell

Idioms Using murmur

• murmur sweet nothings

  to whisper words of affection or endearment in a romantic or flirtatious manner

  Example

  He murmured sweet nothings in her ear as they danced.

• murmur under one's breath

  to speak or say something quietly and indistinctly, often in a way that suggests disapproval or irritation

  Example

  She murmured under her breath when she saw the mess in the kitchen.

• murmur of the heart

  an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope, indicating a heart condition

  Example

  The doctor detected a murmur of the heart during the examination.

Phrases with murmur

• murmur of voices

  a low, indistinct sound made by people speaking quietly

  Example

  I could hear the murmur of voices coming from the next room.

• murmur of discontent

  a low, grumbling sound made by people expressing dissatisfaction or unhappiness

  Example

  There was a murmur of discontent among the workers when they heard about the pay cut.

• murmur of approval

  a low, murmuring sound made by people expressing agreement or satisfaction

  Example

  The audience gave a murmur of approval when the speaker finished his speech.

Origins of murmur

from Middle English 'murmure', from Old French 'murmure', from Latin 'murmurare', from 'murmur', meaning 'a murmur, muttering'

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Summary: murmur in Brief

The term 'murmur' [ˈmɜːmə(r)] refers to a low, continuous sound that is not loud enough to be clearly heard, or to speaking or saying something in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand. It can denote a variety of emotions, from affectionate whispers to expressions of discontent, as in 'The crowd began to murmur in disapproval.' The phrase 'murmur sweet nothings' implies flirtation or romance, while 'murmur under one's breath' suggests irritation or disapproval.