rumbled; rumbling
ˈrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to make a low heavy rolling sound
thunder rumbling in the distance
2
: to travel with a low reverberating sound
wagons rumbled into town
3
: to speak in a low rolling tone
4
: to engage in a rumble
1
: to utter or emit in a low rolling voice
2
British
: to reveal or discover the true character of
1
a
: a low heavy continuous reverberating often muffled sound (as of thunder)
b
: low frequency noise in phonographic playback caused by the transmission of mechanical vibrations by the turntable to the pickup
2
: a seat for servants behind the body of a carriage
3
a
: widespread expression of dissatisfaction or unrest
b
: a street fight especially among gangs
Examples of rumble in a Sentence
Verb
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
The train rumbles through town twice a day.
We watched as the trucks rumbled past.
The gangs rumbled in the alley.
Noun
I was awakened by the rumble of a train passing by.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
Mount Spurr, just to the west of the city of Anchorage, is rumbling.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos by Sinna Nasseri By Sunday morning on the Sunset Strip, there was no escaping the wail of West Hollywood: the rumble of Harley Davidsons; the shudder of police helicopters; the blast of bass-heavy hip-hop from the guts of a Porsche convertible.
—Edmund Vallance, AFAR Media, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
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Verb
Severe thunderstorms will rumble to life Wednesday afternoon in parts of western Oregon and push into western Washington a few hours later.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
Mount Spurr, just to the west of the city of Anchorage, is rumbling.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
His wife, here named Morgan (Alana Arenas), is in legal trouble, too; her anger betrays itself via wonderful little volcanic rumbles.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos by Sinna Nasseri By Sunday morning on the Sunset Strip, there was no escaping the wail of West Hollywood: the rumble of Harley Davidsons; the shudder of police helicopters; the blast of bass-heavy hip-hop from the guts of a Porsche convertible.
—Edmund Vallance, AFAR Media, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumble
Cite this Entry
“Rumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumble. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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