um

interjection

a prolonged sound
How to pronounce um (audio)
əm
used to indicate hesitation
well, um, I don't know

Examples of um in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The controversial new unis have a lighter feel that also have a look that is more, um, sheer. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024 There were some really rough moments, um, walking around. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2024 The popular actor and musician makes a grand entrance in Coors Light’s new Super Bowl commercial as the conductor of the Coors Light Chill Train, an advertising icon that hasn’t really been, um, tapped by the brewer since 2005. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Feb. 2024 Similarly, lots of new Vision Pro owners are finding that, um, other kinds of VR videos don’t work because Safari’s WebXR support is lacking right now. Nilay Patel, The Verge, 5 Feb. 2024 That’s important, says Laura Markham, clinical psychologist and parenting author, because the discussion among relatives during holiday times is not always, um, illuminating. Edward M. Eveld, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2024 Trigger warning to Gen Y: Prepare to feel a little, um, old. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024 But, um, Louise also grew up in, in an affluent family in Oakland. Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024 And then, in New York, um, Bushwick- AL: Obviously. LA: ... um, in Brooklyn has, like, a big scene. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of um was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near um

Cite this Entry

“Um.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/um. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

um

interjection
a prolonged
How to pronounce um (audio)
 sound,  əm
used to express hesitation
well, um, I don't know
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!