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

murmur sweet nothings, murmur under one's breath, murmur of the heart

murmur of voices, murmur of discontent, murmur of approval

Formal and Informal Expressions of murmur

In different contexts, you can replace 'murmur' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'murmuration' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'mumble, grumble' is a commonplace synonym.

murmur: Explore its Definition & Usage

murmur Definition

1a low, continuous sound, especially one that is not loud enough to be clearly heard
2to 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

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.