Mumble Meaning
/ˈmʌmbəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
verbTo chew something gently with closed lips.
Sentence Examples
I heard him mumble to himself.
Don't mumble your words. You are too old for that.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The shy student would ____ his answers so quietly that the teacher asked him to speak up.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please do not ____ your words when you are speaking to the entire class it is very important that everyone can hear you clearly.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Peace, you mumbling fool."
— c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
"A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, / Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself."
— 1680, Thomas Otway, The Orphan:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The shy student would ____ his answers so quietly that the teacher asked him to speak up.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please do not ____ your words when you are speaking to the entire class it is very important that everyone can hear you clearly.