mumble
gb/mˈʌmbəl/ us/mˈʌmbəl/
B1
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Speak in a low, unclear way
To speak so quietly and unclearly that people cannot easily hear or understand you.
Usage pattern:
to mumble [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mumble' with 'whisper'. 'Whisper' is intentionally quiet but can still be clear; 'mumble' is unclear in pronunciation.
Synonyms
mutter (Often implies complaining or speaking in a low voice, sometimes with annoyance.)
|
murmur (Suggests soft, gentle speech, often more pleasant than 'mumble'.)
Antonyms
articulate (Means to speak clearly and distinctly.)
|
enunciate (Means to pronounce words clearly and precisely.)
Collocations
mumble an apology
|mumble under breath
|mumble something
|mumble incoherently
|mumble a reply
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He mumbled something about being late and left the room.
- She mumbled her answer so quietly that nobody understood.
- The child mumbled an apology after breaking the vase.
- I couldn't hear him; he was mumbling into his scarf.
- Stop mumbling and speak clearly so we can all hear you.
Learner examples
- He mumbled his name to the teacher.
- She mumbled sorry to her friend.
- I can't hear you when you mumble.
- The man mumbled in the cold wind.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Quiet, unclear speech
Words that are spoken so quietly and unclearly that they are hard to understand.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'mumble' (noun) with 'rumble', which refers to a continuous deep sound, not speech.
Synonyms
muttering (Low, often complaining speech, sometimes continuous.)
|
murmur (Soft, gentle sound, sometimes pleasant or soothing.)
Antonyms
clear speech (Speech that is easy to hear and understand.)
Collocations
barely audible mumble
|incoherent mumble
|soft mumble
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I could only make out a low mumble from the back of the room.
- Her reply was nothing more than a mumble.
- He spoke in a mumble that no one could follow.
Learner examples
- I heard a mumble from the next room.
- His voice was just a mumble.
- She answered with a quiet mumble.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mumble
IPA
GB/mˈʌmbəl/
US/mˈʌmbəl/
Syllables & stress
mumble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mumble)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: mumble
- 3rd Person Singular: mumbles
- Present Participle: mumbling
- Past: mumbled
Word family
Forms
mumbles
verb
mumbling
verb
mumbled
verb
Related words
mumbler
noun
Expressions
mumble under one's breath
1/mˈʌmbəl ˈʌndɚ wˈʌnz bɹˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Speak quietly and unclearly to oneself
To speak so quietly and unclearly that others nearby cannot hear or understand you, often showing annoyance or reluctance.
Examples
- He mumbled under his breath about how unfair it was.
- She mumbled under her breath as she left the meeting.