humming

UK: /ˈhʌmɪŋ/ US: (hum′ing)

From the verb hum: (⇒ conjugate)

humming is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum•ming  (hum′ing), adj. 

1. making a droning sound;
   buzzing.
2. very busy;
   briskly active:
   a humming office.

• hum + -ing² 1570–80

hum′ming•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum /hʌm/   v., hummed, hum•ming, n., interj. 
v. 

1. to make a low, continuous sound;
   drone:
   [no object] bees humming in the garden.
2. to sing with closed lips, without pronouncing words: [no object]
   He was humming quietly to himself.
   [~ + object]
   He hummed a tune.
3. to give forth an unclear sound of mixed voices or noises:
   [no object] The crowded room was humming.
4. to be in a state of busy activity:
   [no object] The household was humming with wedding preparations.

n. [countable]

5. the act or sound of humming.

interj. 

6. This word is used to express hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, a moment of thinking, etc.

hum•mer, n. [countable]

-hum-, root. 

1. -hum- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "ground.'' This meaning is found in such words as: exhume, humble, humiliate, humility, humus, posthumous.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum  (hum), v., hummed, hum•ming, n., interj. 
v.i. 

1. to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
2. to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.
3. to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.;
   hem.
4. to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.
5. to be in a state of busy activity:
   The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.
6. British Terms to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.

v.t. 

7. to sound, sing, or utter by humming:
   to hum a tune.
8. to bring, put, etc., by humming:
   to hum a child to sleep.

n. 

9. the act or sound of humming;
   an inarticulate or indistinct murmur;
   hem.
10. Sound Reproduction [Audio.] an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.

interj. 

11. (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

• 1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; compare humblebee

Synonyms

• 5. bustle, buzz.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hum / hʌm/ verb (hums, humming, hummed)

1. (intransitive) to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m
2. (intransitive) (of a person) to sing with the lips closed
3. (intransitive) to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem
4. (intransitive) to be in a state of feverish activity
5. (intransitive) to smell unpleasant
6. hum and haw ⇒
   See hem23

noun

1. a low continuous murmuring sound
2. an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply

interjection , noun

1. an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

Etymology: 14th Century: of imitative origin; compare Dutch hommelen, Old High German humbal bumblebee