muttered

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

mut•ter /ˈmʌtɚ/   v. 

1. to say words, or to make sounds, in a low tone hard to understand or hear;
   murmur: [no object]
   He sat, muttering quietly to himself.
   [~ + object]
   He muttered a few words of greeting.
   [used with quotations]
   "That's it,'' he muttered, "no more.''

n. [countable]

2. the act or sound of a person who mutters:
   answering in low mutters.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mut•ter  (mut′ər), v.i. 

1. to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself;
   murmur.
2. to complain murmuringly;
   grumble.
3. to make a low, rumbling sound.

v.t. 

4. to utter indistinctly or in a low tone:
   to mutter complaints.

n. 

5. the act or utterance of a person who mutters.

• 1325–75; Middle English moteren, perh. frequentative of moot¹ (Old English mōtian to speak); see -er⁶

mut′ter•er, n. 
mut′ter•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See murmur. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mutter / ˈmʌtə/ verb

1. to utter (something) in a low and indistinct tone
2. (intransitive) to grumble or complain
3. (intransitive) to make a low continuous murmuring sound

noun

1. a muttered sound or complaint

Etymology: 14th Century moteren; related to Norwegian (dialect) mutra, Old High German mutilōn; compare Old English mōtian to speak

ˈmuttering noun , adjective