humming

American  

[huhm-ing] / ˈhʌm ɪŋ /

adjective

1. making a droning sound; buzzing.

2. very busy; briskly active.

   a humming office.

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Other Word Forms

• hummingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of humming

First recorded in 1570–80; hum + -ing ²

Example Sentences

"It was as if a lot of planes were flying overhead, everything was humming and the glass in the windows shook."

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Even amid cataclysmic energy shocks and relentless spates of white-collar layoffs, the American economic engine appears to be humming along smoothly.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

For decades, liquefied natural gas acted as the global economy’s reliable escape valve during energy crises, keeping factories humming and homes warm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

That means even when same-store sales wobble, new unit growth and royalty collection could keep Wingstop’s profit engine humming.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

The room was cramped but empty, save for the neat stack of reels and the projector, which was currently humming through a large reel.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny