GRUMBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grumble mean? 

• GRUMBLE (noun)
  The noun GRUMBLE has 2 senses:

1. a loud low dull continuous noise

2. a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

  Familiarity information: GRUMBLE used as a noun is rare.

• GRUMBLE (verb)
  The verb GRUMBLE has 4 senses:

1. show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

2. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

3. to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds

4. make a low noise

  Familiarity information: GRUMBLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRUMBLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A loud low dull continuous noise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; rumble; rumbling

Context example:

they heard the rumbling of thunder

Hypernyms ("grumble" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

grumble (to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds)

grumble (make a low noise)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; murmur; murmuring; mutter; muttering

Hypernyms ("grumble" is a kind of...):

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

grumble (make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath)

grumble (show one's unhappiness or critical attitude)

• GRUMBLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they grumble    ... he / she / it grumbles   
Past simple: grumbled   
Past participle: grumbled   
-ing form: grumbling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

grouch; grumble; scold

Context example:

We grumbled about the increased work load

Hypernyms (to "grumble" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

grumble (a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone)

grumbler (a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

croak; gnarl; grumble; murmur; mutter

Context example:

she grumbles when she feels overworked

Hypernyms (to "grumble" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

grumble (a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone)

grumbler (a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining)

grumbling (a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone)

Sense 3

Meaning:

To utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

growl; grumble; rumble

Context example:

Stones grumbled down the cliff

Hypernyms (to "grumble" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

grumble; grumbling (a loud low dull continuous noise)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make a low noise

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

grumble; rumble

Context example:

rumbling thunder

Hypernyms (to "grumble" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

Cars grumble in the streets
The streets grumble with cars

Derivation:

grumble; grumbling (a loud low dull continuous noise)

 Context examples 

“Hang it, Pew, we've got the doubloons!” grumbled one.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The woman who had hoped to find a good sale, gave him what he desired, but went away quite angry and grumbling.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

But of Johnson’s grumbling at the slop-chest I knew nothing, so that what I witnessed came with a shock of sudden surprise.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The Scarecrow began to grumble a bit.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“That handsome face of his has cost me a cool five hundred,” grumbled Sir John Lade.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is their grutching and grumbling which makes them thin.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was his watch off, and he came out of his sleep, rubbing his eyes and grumbling.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Mr. Dolloby, not without some grumbling, gave ninepence.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But she says it has been a hard week for her, so we mustn't grumble but take care of ourselves.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The dogs were tired, the drivers grumbling, and to make matters worse, it snowed every day.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)