Hum
verb
To make a continuous low sound, like a bee or a machine.
The air conditioner was humming in the background.
Often appears as...
- hum a tune
- hum in the background
verb
To sing a tune by making a continuous sound with closed lips.
He hummed his favorite song while working.
Often appears as...
- hum a tune
- hum along with
verb
To be busy and full of energy.
The market was humming with shoppers.
Often appears as...
- hum with activity
- hum with life
noun
A continuous low sound.
There was a hum of conversation in the room.
Often appears as...
- low hum
- gentle hum
verb
To offend by a bad smell.
The garbage hummed and needed to be taken out.
Often appears as...
- hum with smell
- hum like garbage
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To make a continuous low sound, like a bee or a machine.
The air conditioner was humming in the background.
Often appears as...
- hum a tune
- hum in the background
verb
To sing a tune by making a continuous sound with closed lips.
He hummed his favorite song while working.
Often appears as...
- hum a tune
- hum along with
verb
To be busy and full of energy.
The market was humming with shoppers.
Often appears as...
- hum with activity
- hum with life
noun
A continuous low sound.
There was a hum of conversation in the room.
Often appears as...
- low hum
- gentle hum
verb
To offend by a bad smell.
The garbage hummed and needed to be taken out.
Often appears as...
- hum with smell
- hum like garbage
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Background Noise
Used for steady sounds from objects or environments, not people.
The fridge began to hum, unnoticed.
Pro Tip 2/2Atmosphere Creation
Sets a scene by implying a place is functioning or habitable.
Her new coffee shop hummed invitingly.
Pro Tip 1/2Background Noise
Used for steady sounds from objects or environments, not people.
The fridge began to hum, unnoticed.
Pro Tip 2/2Atmosphere Creation
Sets a scene by implying a place is functioning or habitable.
Her new coffee shop hummed invitingly.
Pro Tip 1/2Background Noise
Used for steady sounds from objects or environments, not people.
The fridge began to hum, unnoticed.
Pro Tip 2/2Atmosphere Creation
Sets a scene by implying a place is functioning or habitable.
Her new coffee shop hummed invitingly.
Never forget "Hum"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The Hummingbirds of São...
And it's really important for us, for example, when we're here at the balcony reading or having lunch or during a meditation in the morning, which curiously is called humming meditation it's just so special, it's just so special to get the hummingbird right here. So it really fills up a little bit my heart during these hard
Video examples
Inside a cartoonist's...
that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea. The image and words have to dance together in a way that makes sense. It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance, if that is part of the humor or idea. And then the execution. Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil
Video examples
The history of tattoos -...
according maybe to his humor or different circumstances of his life." Maybe your particular humor and circumstances suggest getting a symbol of cultural heritage, a sign of spirituality, sexual energy, or good old-fashioned avant-garde defiance. A reminder of a great accomplishment,
Video examples
What makes something...
Yet accompanying the bleakness of Kafka's stories, there's a great deal of humor rooted in the nonsensical logic of the situations described. So on the one hand, it's easy to recognize the Kafkaesque in today's world. We rely on increasingly convoluted systems of administration
Video examples
A brief history of...
and their balance directly influenced a person's health and temperament. Melancholia comes from melaina kole, the word for black bile, the humor believed to cause sadness. By changing your diet and through medical practices, you could bring your humors into balance.
Video examples
Three ideas. Three...
Death really changes people. But that -- is my grandmother's sense of humor. But the person I felt most akin to in the world was a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a great-great-grandmother. Me? I represented the very end of my branch of the family tree.
Video examples
Srdja Popovic: How to...
Now, there is also another very important dynamic. And this is a dynamic that analysts normally don't see. This is the dynamic between fear and apathy on the one side, and enthusiasm and humor on another side. So, it works like in a video game.
Video examples
Isabel Allende: A...
know I feel safe here you live in terror with this paranoia of terrorism this is a very safe place you don't know what the rest of the world looks like so I go to to Chile because that's my roots and my language and the sense of humor and
Video examples
The real meaning of soul...
might be why a sense of humor is absent from that list so what about going with a different language altogether the language of music soul music because of soul can be said to have a heart this surely goes right to it think Nina
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Humor is subjective. Comedy is trial and error. Writing is rewriting. Just keep trying. Find the flaws, discover the details, insert incongruities, incorporate k-words, and remember the most important rule of writing have fun.
Video examples
The Hummingbirds of São...
And it's really important for us, for example, when we're here at the balcony reading or having lunch or during a meditation in the morning, which curiously is called humming meditation it's just so special, it's just so special to get the hummingbird right here. So it really fills up a little bit my heart during these hard
Video examples
Inside a cartoonist's...
that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea. The image and words have to dance together in a way that makes sense. It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance, if that is part of the humor or idea. And then the execution. Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil
Video examples
The history of tattoos -...
according maybe to his humor or different circumstances of his life." Maybe your particular humor and circumstances suggest getting a symbol of cultural heritage, a sign of spirituality, sexual energy, or good old-fashioned avant-garde defiance. A reminder of a great accomplishment,
Video examples
What makes something...
Yet accompanying the bleakness of Kafka's stories, there's a great deal of humor rooted in the nonsensical logic of the situations described. So on the one hand, it's easy to recognize the Kafkaesque in today's world. We rely on increasingly convoluted systems of administration
Video examples
A brief history of...
and their balance directly influenced a person's health and temperament. Melancholia comes from melaina kole, the word for black bile, the humor believed to cause sadness. By changing your diet and through medical practices, you could bring your humors into balance.
Video examples
Three ideas. Three...
Death really changes people. But that -- is my grandmother's sense of humor. But the person I felt most akin to in the world was a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a great-great-grandmother. Me? I represented the very end of my branch of the family tree.
Video examples
Srdja Popovic: How to...
Now, there is also another very important dynamic. And this is a dynamic that analysts normally don't see. This is the dynamic between fear and apathy on the one side, and enthusiasm and humor on another side. So, it works like in a video game.
Video examples
Isabel Allende: A...
know I feel safe here you live in terror with this paranoia of terrorism this is a very safe place you don't know what the rest of the world looks like so I go to to Chile because that's my roots and my language and the sense of humor and
Video examples
The real meaning of soul...
might be why a sense of humor is absent from that list so what about going with a different language altogether the language of music soul music because of soul can be said to have a heart this surely goes right to it think Nina
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Humor is subjective. Comedy is trial and error. Writing is rewriting. Just keep trying. Find the flaws, discover the details, insert incongruities, incorporate k-words, and remember the most important rule of writing have fun.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mark Twain
American Writer
Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever.
Quote examples
Ken Watanabe
Japanese Actor
The characters I play are tough, but I love laughing and humor.
Quote examples
Jonathan Scott
Canadian Entertainer
I love to laugh. A sense of humor is really important.
Quote examples
Mel Brooks
American Comedian
Humor is just another defense against the universe.
Quote examples
Foster Friess
American Businessman
Life is just so much fun and so filled with humor.
Quote examples
Robertson Davies
Canadian Novelist
The love of truth lies at the root of much humor.
Quote examples
Tcheky Karyo
Turkish Actor
Life is tragic comedy, in a way. There is humor.
Quote examples
Patti LaBelle
American Musician
People with no humor, they're outta my life.
Quote examples
Tracy Morgan
American Actor
I want to show the world my humor.
Quote examples
Roger von Oech
American Businessman
Humor helps people open up.
Quote examples
Mark Twain
American Writer
Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever.
Quote examples
Ken Watanabe
Japanese Actor
The characters I play are tough, but I love laughing and humor.
Quote examples
Jonathan Scott
Canadian Entertainer
I love to laugh. A sense of humor is really important.
Quote examples
Mel Brooks
American Comedian
Humor is just another defense against the universe.
Quote examples
Foster Friess
American Businessman
Life is just so much fun and so filled with humor.
Quote examples
Robertson Davies
Canadian Novelist
The love of truth lies at the root of much humor.
Quote examples
Tcheky Karyo
Turkish Actor
Life is tragic comedy, in a way. There is humor.
Quote examples
Patti LaBelle
American Musician
People with no humor, they're outta my life.
Quote examples
Tracy Morgan
American Actor
I want to show the world my humor.
Quote examples
Roger von Oech
American Businessman
Humor helps people open up.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension