hum

hum — verb

1. to produce a steady, low-pitched sound that continues without a break — used esp

1.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to produce a steady, low-pitched sound that continues without a break — used especially for machines, electrical devices, or flying insects.

Example

The old refrigerator hummed quietly in the corner of the kitchen.

intransitive: subject (machine/device) hums

Bees hummed around the cherry blossoms in the garden.

Common collocations
  • hum quietly
  • hum steadily
  • hum loudly
  • fan hums
  • engine hums
  • refrigerator hums
Synonyms
  • buzz

    higher-pitched, more rapid sound; often for insects or phone alerts

  • drone

    deeper, more monotonous and often tiresome sound

  • whir

    faster sound from spinning or rotating parts

  • purr

    softer, smoother sound like a cat or a well-tuned engine

Grammar Patterns

hum (for machines, insects, or devices)

Usage Note

Frequently used for machines, insects, and electrical appliances. The sound is steady and low-pitched — higher or more intermittent sounds use buzz instead.

Common Mistakes

The phone hummed with a notification.
The phone buzzed with a notification.
A phone alert is a short, high sound (buzz), not a steady low sound (hum).

2. to produce a melody by pressing the lips together so that the sound comes out th

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to produce a melody by pressing the lips together so that the sound comes out through the nose, without opening the mouth to say words.

Example

Lauren hummed her favorite tune while washing the dishes.

transitive: hum + [tune/song]

The old man hummed quietly to himself as he waited for the bus.

intransitive: hum to oneself

Common collocations
  • hum a tune
  • hum a song
  • hum a melody
  • hum to oneself
  • hum along
Synonyms
  • croon

    sing softly and sentimentally; implies more emotion and sometimes open-mouthed singing

  • whistle

    produce a tune by blowing through pursed lips, a completely different technique

Grammar Patterns

hum + [tune/song]

hum to oneself

hum along with [music]

Usage Note

Can be transitive (hum a tune) or intransitive (hum to oneself). The transitive form requires the object to be a melody or song — not words or speech.

Common Mistakes

She hummed a message to her friend.
She hummed a melody to her friend.
You can only hum a tune or song, not spoken words.

3. to be filled with lively activity, busy movement, and noise — used for a place,

3.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to be filled with lively activity, busy movement, and noise — used for a place, event, or scene where many things are happening at once.

Example

The night market hummed with the chatter of customers and vendors.

pattern: hum with [activity/noise/people]

During exam week, the library hummed with students studying.

Common collocations
  • hum with activity
  • hum with energy
  • hum with life
  • hum with voices
  • hum with excitement
Synonyms
  • buzz

    more energetic and noisier; implies a higher level of excitement

  • bustle

    emphasizes hurried movement rather than sound

  • throb

    suggests a pulsing or rhythmic quality to the activity

Grammar Patterns

hum with [activity/noise/people]

Usage Note

Almost always followed by with + noun describing the source of the activity. Past tense hummed is the most common form for describing a past scene.

Common Mistakes

The office hummed of workers.
The office hummed with workers.
Use with, not of, to introduce the source of activity.

4. to give off a very unpleasant, often rotten smell — used informally about food t

4.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to give off a very unpleasant, often rotten smell — used informally about food that has spoiled or a place that is dirty and needs cleaning.

Example

The garbage bins in the alley really hum in the summer heat.

informal slang: hum = stink

Apinya knew the milk had gone bad when it started to hum.

Common collocations
  • begin to hum
  • start to hum
  • really hum
  • fridge hums
  • trash hums
Synonyms
  • stink

    the most common informal word for a very bad smell

  • reek

    implies a strong and penetrating odour that fills the air

  • smell

    neutral — needs a modifier like bad to express unpleasantness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

something hums (for spoiled or unclean things)

Usage Note

Highly informal — used in casual speech only, never in formal writing. The subject is typically something that has spoiled or become unclean.

Common Mistakes

The flowers hum sweetly in the garden.
The flowers smell sweet in the garden.
Hum only refers to unpleasant smells, never pleasant ones.
Idioms

hum and haw

idiom

To spend a lot of time hesitating before making a decision or speaking.

Maya hummed and hawed before choosing her college major.

Why do you always hum and haw when I ask a simple question?

hum — noun

Word family

  • hummer
    nounC1
  • humming
    adjectiveB1
  • hummed
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe continuous low-pitched sounds, but they differ in source and quality. Hum is the most general term for a steady, low sound from a machine or appliance — a refrigerator, a computer fan, or a distant engine all hum. Buzz suggests a higher-pitched, more rapid sound, often made by insects or electrical devices giving off a vibrating tone, like a fluorescent light or a phone on vibrate. Drone implies a dull, monotonous, and often tiresome continuous sound — an engine running at the same pitch for hours drones. Whir describes a fast, slightly higher sound produced by a part moving at speed, such as a fan blade or a spinning wheel. If your air conditioner makes a steady background noise, it hums; if it has a loose part rotating quickly, it may whir; if the noise is flat and annoying, it drones.

buzz ↗dronewhir

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

GermanicMiddle EnglishEnglish

Hum originated as an imitative (onomatopoeic) word — the sound of the word itself copies the sound it describes. It appeared in Middle English as hummen or hommen during the 14th century, related to similar words in other Germanic languages such as Dutch hommelen and German hummen, all of which use the vowel 'u' plus the nasal consonant 'm' to mimic a low, steady buzzing or droning sound.