harrumph

American

[huh-ruhmf] / həˈrʌmf /

verb (used without object)

to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner.

The professor harrumphed good-naturedly.
to express oneself gruffly.

harrumph British

/ həˈrʌmf /

verb

(intr) to clear or make the noise of clearing the throat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of harrumph

First recorded in 1935–40; imitative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Trousers," exclaims the Prince Andrew character, with a fruity harrumph, as though taken aback by a female interviewer wearing trousers.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2024

They treated an audience that knows how to harrumph to a smorgasbord of how things should be done.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022

It’s part of the game, and for Murphy to harrumph about it bespeaks a degree of ignorance or arrogance fully deserving of the Europeans’ derision and scorn.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2019

You’ve got to work Black Friday and Cyber Monday, harrumph.

From Washington Times • Nov. 22, 2018

He didn’t point out who was who, or I missed it, so I stood there confused until the tall, skinny woman with glasses gave a small harrumph and waved at her partner.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023