humming

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈhʌmɪŋ/ UK /ˈhʌmɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
producing a low continuous sound; busy and active

The workshop was humming with activity before the deadline.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · producing a low continuous... droningbuzzing murmuringthrummingbusy bustling lively active

Opposites

silent quiet still inactive

Word family

Related forms humhummer

Etymology

Present participle of hum, of imitative origin echoing a low continuous sound; the 'busy, active' sense is figurative.

hum onomatopoeic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# humming

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhʌmɪŋ/

## Meanings
1. producing a low continuous sound; busy and active

## Examples
- The workshop was humming with activity before the deadline.

## Synonyms
- droning
- buzzing
- murmuring
- thrumming
- busy
- bustling
- lively
- active

## Antonyms
- silent
- quiet
- still
- inactive

## Related Forms
- hum
- hummer

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: hum

## Etymology
Present participle of hum, of imitative origin echoing a low continuous sound; the 'busy, active' sense is figurative.

## AI Etymology
Humming is the present participle of hum, of imitative origin echoing a low continuous sound; the 'busy, active' sense is figurative. Important recorded forms include hum (onomatopoeic). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers producing a low continuous sound; busy and active. The wider family includes related words such as hum and hummer.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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