purr

1 of 2

noun

: a low vibratory murmur typical of an apparently contented or pleased cat

purr

2 of 2

verb

purred; purring; purrs

intransitive verb

1
: to make a purr or a sound like a purr
cars purring along the highway
2
a
: to speak in a manner that resembles a purr
b
: to speak in a malicious catty manner
purringly adverb

Examples of purr in a Sentence

Noun the soft purr of a car engine listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine Verb The cat was purring contentedly in my lap. The cars were purring along the highway. “You look tense. Let me buy you a drink,” he purred.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Her plush cat, with a pillow-like body and realistic purr, will be sold direct to consumer on her website. Joan Verdon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 Giving him a little hug and hearing him purr definitely lifts my spirit. David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, Kathryn purrs an invitation from the bedroom. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025 Her creation, a plush, fabric cat named Wren that purrs and vibrates, is making its debut at the fair. Joan Verdon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purr

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purr was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purr. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

purr

noun
ˈpər
: a low murmuring sound of a contented cat
purr verb

More from Merriam-Webster on purr

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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