rumble

1 of 2

verb

rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl How to pronounce rumble (audio)
rumbled; rumbling ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rumble (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to make a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbling in the distance
2
: to travel with a low reverberating sound
wagons rumbled into town
3
: to speak in a low rolling tone
4
: to engage in a rumble

transitive verb

1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British : to reveal or discover the true character of
rumbler noun

rumble

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a low heavy continuous reverberating often muffled sound (as of thunder)
b
: low frequency noise in phonographic playback caused by the transmission of mechanical vibrations by the turntable to the pickup
2
: a seat for servants behind the body of a carriage
3
a
: widespread expression of dissatisfaction or unrest
b
: a street fight especially among gangs

Examples of rumble in a Sentence

Verb Thunder rumbled in the distance. The train rumbles through town twice a day. We watched as the trucks rumbled past. The gangs rumbled in the alley. Noun I was awakened by the rumble of a train passing by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The city’s sports landscape rumbles with starry-eyed anticipation. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 But additional damaging storms are forecast to rumble to life Thursday afternoon and continue through the night. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Cherry-red trucks loaded with miners rumble past his home on their way to a long day of work as the sun rises in the morning. Megan Janetsky, Victor R. Caivano and Rodrigo Abd, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 On the coldest days of winter, the generators at Merrimack Station rumble into production, burning coal to generate electricity when demand peaks. Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 And just like Tuesday's storm, more severe thunderstorms are forecast to rumble across the South and Southeast, the Storm Prediction Center warned. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 Allen then rumbled to scramble for a first down on third-and-13 to further extend the drive, but Miami got the ball back with 1:53 remaining at its own 37-yard line needing a touchdown as Tagovailoa threw the final interception looking for wide receiver Chase Claypool in double coverage. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2024 The Palestinian architect and mother of two could hear Israeli fighter jets rumbling overhead as air strikes took out the building next to hers. Aya Batrawy, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 Both swayed as the driver rumbled through downtown San Diego. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2024
Noun
While most of the rain is light, a few heavier downpours and even a rumble of thunder can’t be ruled out. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 There was the sound of distant rumbles of bombs … every day … every night. Joyce Kamanitz, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2024 Whenever a concert is underway below, guards dot the plaza’s perimeter, waving pedestrians away from crossing, as the click of high heels and the rumble of wheelie luggage register quite clearly in the hall’s otherwise pristine acoustics. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Guitar and piano lines elevate both the sense of restlessness and vastness opportunity ahead of him, while his earthy rumble of a voice grounds the song (written by Brett Jones and Tony Lane) in heartbreak. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 During this display, the alligator will often inflate its lungs, raising its body off the water’s surface, and produce a series of rumbles. Craig Caudill, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023 Did the three dead roaches in that dry storage corner lose a rumble to the rodents? Go to the bathroom, wash your hands, come out dripping all over the place because there wasn’t any way to dry your hands. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Seven red cards later the game finished in a royal rumble, but River Plate got the home victory and took the league title at a canter. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 An interlude of golden horns introduced the concerto’s bracing finish, a little ostinato passed between the percussion and the strings, a triumphant theme mounting across the brass, a heroic rumble of timpani. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle High German rummeln to rumble

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rumble was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rumble

Cite this Entry

“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rumble

1 of 2 verb
rum·​ble ˈrəm-bəl How to pronounce rumble (audio)
rumbled; rumbling -b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rumble (audio)
: to make or move with a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbled in the distance

rumble

2 of 2 noun
: a low heavy rolling sound

More from Merriam-Webster on rumble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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