grumble Meaning & Definition
What Does Grumble Mean?
Grumble is used as a noun meaning A high thundering, rumbling or growling sound. It is also used to mean The sound made by a hungry stomach. As a verb, it means To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
Grumble at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹʌmbl̩/ |
| Synonyms | murmur, rumble and croak |
| Plural | grumbles |
| Verb forms | grumbles, grumbling, grumbled |
Grumble Definition (Noun)
- A high thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
- The sound made by a hungry stomach.
- A surly complaint.
That whiner is never without a grumble to share.
Grumble as a Verb
- To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
The distant thunder grumbles.
- To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
- To utter in a grumbling fashion.
Noun
- A low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
Synonyms of Grumble
Grumble synonyms and antonyms →Grumble in a Sentence
That whiner is never without a grumble to share.
The distant thunder grumbles.
He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
Word Forms & Grammar
grumble (plural grumbles)
grumble (third-person singular simple present grumbles, present participle grumbling, simple past and past participle grumbled)
Words That Rhyme With Grumble
Origin of Grumble
Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).
Quick Answers About Grumble
Is grumble a noun or a verb?
Grumble is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for grumble?
Words with a similar meaning to grumble include murmur, rumble and croak. See the full list of grumble synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of grumble?
The plural of grumble is grumbles.
What is the past tense of grumble?
The past tense of grumble is grumbled. The present participle is grumbling.