grumble

UK: /ˈgrʌmb^əl/ US: /ˈgrʌmbəl/ ,(grum′bəl)

Inflections of 'grumble' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

grumbles

v 3rd person singular

grumbling

v pres p

grumbled

v past

grumbled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

grum•ble /ˈgrʌmbəl/   v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v. 

1. to murmur or mutter in discontent;
   complain unhappily: [no object]
   All he did was grumble.
   [used with quotations]
   "I hate that job,'' he grumbled.
2. to rumble:
   [no object] a volcano grumbling in the distance.

n. [countable]

3. an expression of discontent;
   complaint.
4. a rumble.

grum•bler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grum•ble  (grum′bəl), v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to murmur or mutter in discontent;
   complain sullenly.
2. to utter low, indistinct sounds;
   growl.
3. to rumble:
   The thunder grumbled in the west.

v.t. 

4. to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.

n. 

5. an expression of discontent;
   complaint;
   unhappy murmur;
   growl.
6. grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.
7. a rumble.

• Gmc)
• 1580–90; perh. frequentative of Old English grymman to wail; compare Dutch grommelen, German grummeln, French grommeler (

grum′bler, n. 
grum′bling•ly, adv. 
grum′bly, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See complain. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grumble / ˈɡrʌmb^əl/ verb

1. to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way
2. (intransitive) to make low dull rumbling sounds

noun

1. a complaint; grouse
2. a low rumbling sound

Etymology: 16th Century: from Middle Low German grommelen, of Germanic origin; see grim

ˈgrumbler noun

ˈgrumblingly adverb

ˈgrumbly adjective