babbling

American  

[bab-ling] / ˈbæb lɪŋ /

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 Word Forms

• babblingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of babbling

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

Example Sentences

The phrase echoed the one I had spoken years earlier to a babbling toddler in a Baltimore church.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

"America is a big place with 350 plus million people all babbling over their identity and their agency and those struggles create interesting patterns," he says.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Holmes’ feed is a babbling stream of self-help epigrams, ankle-deep reflections and many, many photos of herself.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025

This, of course, is unscientific babbling, which is why the professor is a beloved guest on Rogan’s show.

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2025

Nearby, Gabriel played happily on the floor, babbling his baby talk, looking with glee now and then toward Jonas, obviously delighted to have him back after the unexpected night away from the dwelling.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry