[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/mumble/)

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# mumble

verb (mumble, mumbles, mumbled, mumbling); noun (a mumble, mumbles)

«mumble» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To speak quietly and not clearly, so that people find it hard to understand you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#m1)
2. (noun) Quiet, unclear speech. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#m2)

### In the lessons

In speaking and listening lessons: «Don't mumble — speak up and look at your audience». In stories it shows shyness, sleepiness or guilt: «he mumbled an apology», «mumbled something under his breath». Similar words: mutter, murmur, whisper.

### Examples

- Don't mumble; speak clearly so we can hear you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x1)
- He mumbled «sorry» and looked at the floor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x2)
- She mumbled something in her sleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x3)
- I couldn't understand his mumble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x4)
- The shy boy mumbled his name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x5)
- Stop mumbling and say it again loudly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x6)
- Grandpa mumbled into his beard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x7)
- “What are you mumbling to yourself?” asked the Fairy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: mumbled. To «mumble» is not clear; to «whisper» is quiet but can be clear; to «mutter» is quiet and often grumpy. The «b» is spoken: «MUM-bul».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mumble» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mumble/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mumble» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mumble.html) on Mova free.