rumbled; rumbling
ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
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
1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British
: to reveal or discover the true character of
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
Synonyms
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
Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The severe storms that rumbled through the region Tuesday afternoon brought a flood of watches and warnings and a deluge of rainwater, but no widespread reports of major damage in Greater Cincinnati.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Thunderstorms will rumble across the South on Tuesday, but the threat for widespread damaging storms appears to be limited.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
The population balloons on weekends when people from outlying areas rumble into town in heavy-duty trucks to stock up on supplies or eat at a chain restaurant.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
Israel has responded forcefully to Hezbollah’s attacks: Above the hills and valleys of Israel’s border with Lebanon, Israeli warplanes rumble overhead.
—Isabel Kershner Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The answer to this question is never no, but again—the digestive system is already rumbling.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024
Joe Biden delivers fiery SOTU, ready to rumble with Trump
Hecklers and jibes
Members of Congress on the Democratic side of the aisle repeatedly rose in applause while those on the Republican side generally sat silent.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Recent evidence from a site in Madagascar suggests these tiny titans were born ready to rumble.
—Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The first quake was alarming enough — a rumble more powerful than anything felt in Taiwan for a quarter-century, lasting for more than a minute on Wednesday morning, knocking belongings and even whole buildings askew.
—John Yoon, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Besides bird chirps, owl hoots and racoons searching for food, the rumble of car engines firing up as campers head home may be strangely absent.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The rumbles dragged on for over a year, with more than 17,000 recorded in the first week of March alone.
—Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Confidence: Medium Showers, rain and some rumbles are possible Monday and Tuesday, along with breeziness.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Miami will feel the low frequency rumble of thundering techno — and perhaps some forecast thunderstorms — as the masses descend on Bayfront Park in downtown Miami to see and hear hundreds of DJs crank up the beats for the 24th annual Ultra Music Festival.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Hearing the rumble of Dre’s flow — then-fresh to a solo career after leaving N.W.A — paired with Snoop’s new school slither for the first time was breathtaking.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
By Wednesday, the storm system will bring heavy rain, strong winds and perhaps a few rumbles of thunder to the East Coast, including the I-95 corridor.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Many mistook the sudden shaking for a rumbling plane or train.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The severe storms that rumbled through the region Tuesday afternoon brought a flood of watches and warnings and a deluge of rainwater, but no widespread reports of major damage in Greater Cincinnati.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Thunderstorms will rumble across the South on Tuesday, but the threat for widespread damaging storms appears to be limited.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
The population balloons on weekends when people from outlying areas rumble into town in heavy-duty trucks to stock up on supplies or eat at a chain restaurant.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
Israel has responded forcefully to Hezbollah’s attacks: Above the hills and valleys of Israel’s border with Lebanon, Israeli warplanes rumble overhead.
—Isabel Kershner Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The answer to this question is never no, but again—the digestive system is already rumbling.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024
Joe Biden delivers fiery SOTU, ready to rumble with Trump
Hecklers and jibes
Members of Congress on the Democratic side of the aisle repeatedly rose in applause while those on the Republican side generally sat silent.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Recent evidence from a site in Madagascar suggests these tiny titans were born ready to rumble.
—Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Rounds of heavy rain and the occasional rumble of thunder will affect the Great Lakes, interior northeast and the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston from Thursday night into Friday.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The first quake was alarming enough — a rumble more powerful than anything felt in Taiwan for a quarter-century, lasting for more than a minute on Wednesday morning, knocking belongings and even whole buildings askew.
—John Yoon, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Besides bird chirps, owl hoots and racoons searching for food, the rumble of car engines firing up as campers head home may be strangely absent.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The rumbles dragged on for over a year, with more than 17,000 recorded in the first week of March alone.
—Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Confidence: Medium Showers, rain and some rumbles are possible Monday and Tuesday, along with breeziness.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Miami will feel the low frequency rumble of thundering techno — and perhaps some forecast thunderstorms — as the masses descend on Bayfront Park in downtown Miami to see and hear hundreds of DJs crank up the beats for the 24th annual Ultra Music Festival.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Hearing the rumble of Dre’s flow — then-fresh to a solo career after leaving N.W.A — paired with Snoop’s new school slither for the first time was breathtaking.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
By Wednesday, the storm system will bring heavy rain, strong winds and perhaps a few rumbles of thunder to the East Coast, including the I-95 corridor.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 26 Feb. 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
Phrases Containing rumble
Dictionary Entries Near rumble
Cite this Entry
“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on rumble
Nglish: Translation of rumble for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rumble for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rumble
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