grumble

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈɡɹʌmbl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #26861

Meanings

1

verb
To complain about something in a quiet, unhappy way.

The workers grumble when they feel overworked.
2

verb
To make a low, continuous, rumbling sound.

The distant thunder grumbled all afternoon.
3

noun
A quiet complaint said in an unhappy tone.

That whiner always has a grumble to share.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to complain about something... murmur mutter

2 verb · to make a low, continuous,... rumble

3 noun · a quiet complaint said in... grumbling

Word family

Forms grumbledgrumbles

Derived forms begrumblegrumblergrumblesomegrumbly

Related forms rumble

Etymology

Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).

grommeler Middle French grumeler Old French *grommelen Middle Dutch grommen Middle Dutch

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Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# grumble

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡɹʌmbl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 26861

## Meanings
1. To complain about something in a quiet, unhappy way.
2. To make a low, continuous, rumbling sound.
3. A quiet complaint said in an unhappy tone.

## Examples
- The workers grumble when they feel overworked.
- The distant thunder grumbled all afternoon.
- That whiner always has a grumble to share.

## Derived Forms
- begrumble
- grumbler
- grumblesome
- grumbly

## Related Forms
- rumble

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: grommeler
- Root: grumeler
- Root: *grommelen
- Root: grommen

## Etymology
Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).

## AI Etymology
Grumble is probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”). In present-day use, it can mean to complain about something in a quiet, unhappy way, or to make a low, continuous, rumbling sound. Related forms include rumble. Derived formations include begrumble, grumbler, grumblesome, grumbly.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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