Meaning of hum in English

1. Pronunciation

   /həm/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce hum in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   hum

   Etymology

   late Middle English: imitative

   Definitions

   1. sing with closed lips

   Examples

   • « She hummed a melody »
2. 2. be noisy with activity

   Examples

   • « This office is buzzing with activity »
3. 3. sound with a monotonous hum
4. 4. make a low continuous sound

   Examples

   • « The refrigerator is humming »

5. Noun

   hum

   Definitions

   1. the state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity

   Examples

   • « they manifested all the busyness of a pack of beavers »
   • « there is a constant hum of military preparation »
6. 2. an Islamic fundamentalist group in Pakistan that fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s

   Examples

   • « now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in Kashmir and seeks Kashmir's accession by Pakistan »
7. 3. a humming noise

   Examples

   • « the hum of distant traffic »