rumble

[ ruhm-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, rum·bled, rum·bling.

1. to make a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound, as thunder.

   Synonyms: boom, roll, thunder, roar

2. to move or travel with such a sound:

   The train rumbled on.

3. Slang. to have or take part in a street fight between or among teenage gangs:

   Rival gangs rumbled on Saturday afternoon.

verb (used with object)

, rum·bled, rum·bling.

1. to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound:

   to rumble a command.

2. to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound:

   to rumble a wagon over the ground.

3. to subject to the action of a rumble or tumbling box, as for the purpose of polishing.

noun

1. a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound:

   the rumble of tanks across a bridge.

2. rumble seat.
3. a rear part of a carriage containing seating accommodations, as for servants, or space for baggage.
4. a tumbling box.
5. Slang. a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

rumble

/ ˈrʌmbəl /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a deep resonant sound

   thunder rumbled in the sky

2. to move with such a sound

   the train rumbled along

3. tr to utter with a rumbling sound

   he rumbled an order

4. tr to tumble (metal components, gemstones, etc) in a barrel of smooth stone in order to polish them
5. informal.
   tr to find out about (someone or something); discover (something)

   the police rumbled their plans

6. slang.
   intr to be involved in a gang fight

noun

1. a deep resonant sound
2. a widespread murmur of discontent
3. another name for tumbler
4. slang.
   a gang fight

Derived Forms

• ˈrumbling, adjective
• ˈrumbler, noun
• ˈrumblingly, adverb

Other Words From

• rumbler noun
• rumbling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumble¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb romblen, rumblen; compare Dutch rommelen, probably imitative of the sound; 1940–45 rumble fordef 3

Word History and Origins

Origin of rumble¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch rummelen ; related to German rummeln, rumpeln

Example Sentences

As an oncoming train rumbled in the distance, López and her family picked up their luggage in hopes that it would stop or slow down so that they could clamber aboard.

From Los Angeles Times

Wilmington residents have long complained about noxious air and the rumble of cargo trucks.

From Los Angeles Times

Po urges the crowd to pick their crowned prince, and the crowd rumbles with enthusiasm for Mitchell and Dueve.

From Salon

The "most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate", King Charles III said this week to Commonwealth leaders in Samoa, as arguments about reparations and apologies over the slave trade rumbled once again.

From BBC

The rumble in Rawalpindi isn’t just the climax of this series, but also to England’s Asian adventure spanning the best part of four years.

From BBC

Related Words

• resound
• roar