babble

verb

bab·​ble ˈba-bəl 

babbled; babbling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to talk enthusiastically or excessively

b

: to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds

2

: to make sounds as though babbling

transitive verb

1

: to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner

2

: to reveal by talk that is too free

babble noun

babblement

ˈba-bəl-mənt 

noun

babbler

ˈba-b(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• bumble
• chat
• chatter
• drivel
• drool
• gabble
• gibber
• jabber
• prattle
• sputter

Examples of babble in a Sentence

Pay no attention to her. She's just babbling.

He'll babble on about sports all night if you let him.

Her cousins were babbling in an unfamiliar dialect.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers. —Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025

This stunning 215-foot-tall limestone arch was carved over many years by babbling Cedar Creek. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2025

Zhao babbled about the differences between the tech industries in Taiwan and Japan, plying Craig with question after question. —Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025

Hall of Mosses Trail What to Listen For: The babbling Hoh River will, unsurprisingly, accompany you on the Hoh River Trail. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English babelen, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for babble

• babel
• dabble
• drabble
• gabble
• nabal
• rabble
• scrabble
• immeasurable

Video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

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A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

Kids Definition

babble

1 of 2 verb

bab·​ble

ˈbab-əl

babbled; babbling

ˈbab-(ə-)liŋ

1

a

: to make meaningless sounds

b

: to talk foolishly or too much

2

: to make the sound of a brook

babbler

ˈbab-(ə-)lər

noun

babble

2 of 2 noun

1

: talk that is not clear

2

: the sound of a brook