babbling

[ bab-ling ]

noun

1. foolish or meaningless chatter; prattle:

   the constant babbling of idle gossips.

2. the random production of meaningless vocal sounds characteristic of infants around the age of three months.

adjective

1. chattering or prattling aimlessly:

   The babbling crowd quieted and funneled back into the auditorium at the end of intermission.

2. making a continuous murmuring sound:

   a babbling brook.

Other Words From

• bab·bling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of babbling¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English babelinde, bablyng; babble, -ing ¹ (for the noun senses), -ing ² (for the adjective)

Example Sentences

The gang finds him holed up in a New Hampshire factory of a company Guillermo’s firm just finished gutting, babbling incoherently like Col.

From Salon

On Truth Social, he claimed it was the worst interview ever and that Harris was edited to look more presidential while she was incoherent and babbling.

From Salon

Beltway journalists have fallen into a bad habit of Trump's babbling monologues and rewriting Trump's babbling monologues so that they sound like coherent political speeches.

From Salon

Nearby Antonovich Trail, a popular trek for locals, meanders along a babbling Walnut Creek, shaded by fig, coast live oak and eucalyptus trees.

From Los Angeles Times

I don't know, I'm starting to veer into tropes and babbling.

From Salon