Murmuring: meaning, uses, examples, and common mistakes
Murmuring: meaning, uses, examples, and common mistakes
Murmuring usually means speaking in a low, soft, or difficult-to-hear voice, but it can also describe a quiet continuous sound or subdued complaint.
The word changes slightly with context. A person may murmur a reply because they are shy, tired, upset, or trying not to be overheard. Water may murmur as it moves over stones, while a group may be accused of murmuring when members complain quietly among themselves.
As a verb, murmuring is the present participle of murmur. It describes an action that is happening now or continuing for a period of time. For example, “She was murmuring to herself” means she was speaking quietly, often without making every word clear.
As a noun, a murmur can refer to the sound itself: “A murmur came from the back of the room.” The noun can also describe a faint background sound, such as the murmur of conversation in a busy café.
The word often suggests that speech is soft and indistinct. It does not automatically mean the speaker is unhappy or secretive. The surrounding words and situation determine whether the sound seems gentle, private, nervous, unhappy, or merely hard to understand.
Quiet speech: “He was murmuring an apology.”
Private or unclear speech: “She murmured something I could not hear.”
Low background sound: “The murmur of the crowd filled the hall.”
Subdued complaint: “Workers began murmuring about the new schedule.”
Natural sound: “The stream murmured beneath the bridge.”
How murmuring differs from whispering, muttering, and mumbling
Murmuring, whispering, muttering, and mumbling overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. Each word gives the reader a different impression of volume, clarity, purpose, or emotion.
Murmuring compared with whispering
Whispering normally means speaking very softly, often by using little or no voice. People whisper when they do not want others to hear them, such as during a performance or a private conversation. Murmuring may also be quiet, but it does not always involve secrecy.
“They were whispering during the meeting” suggests an attempt to avoid being heard. “They were murmuring during the meeting” may suggest low, indistinct conversation without emphasizing secrecy. The second sentence could also imply a general background sound from several people.
Murmuring compared with muttering
Muttering often suggests irritation, disagreement, or speech delivered under the breath. A person who mutters may be complaining or speaking in a way that shows displeasure. Murmuring is more neutral and can sound gentle or affectionate.
Compare these examples: “He murmured that he was tired” sounds quiet and restrained. “He muttered that he was tired” may suggest annoyance, reluctance, or a complaint. The distinction is not absolute, but mutter usually carries a more negative emotional tone.
Murmuring compared with mumbling
Mumbling focuses on unclear pronunciation. Someone may mumble because they are nervous, speaking too quickly, lowering their voice, or failing to form words distinctly. A murmur can be perfectly understandable even though it is quiet.
“She murmured his name” describes a soft delivery. “She mumbled his name” suggests that the listener had trouble understanding the word. In fiction, writers sometimes choose “murmured” for a tender or restrained line and “mumbled” for an awkward or unclear one.
What murmuring suggests about a speaker’s voice
The word gives information about volume, but it can also hint at the speaker’s attitude. A murmur may be calm, intimate, hesitant, sorrowful, respectful, or resistant. You should not assume one emotion without considering the complete sentence.
For example, “He murmured a blessing” sounds quiet and reverent. “She murmured a protest” suggests restrained disagreement. “The child murmured in her sleep” describes low speech without implying that the child had a deliberate message.
Writers often use murmuring when a character does not want to make a statement openly. The character may be uncertain, embarrassed, emotionally overwhelmed, or trying to communicate only with one nearby person. The word can therefore suggest limited confidence or controlled emotion, although context remains decisive.
Disapproval: “Several customers were murmuring about the delay.”
Sleep or unconsciousness: “He was murmuring in his sleep.”
Meaning depends on context: “Murmuring” can sound tender, troubled, secretive, or neutral. Look at the speaker, the verb’s object, and the surrounding emotional details before choosing an interpretation.
How murmuring describes sounds in nature and surroundings
Murmuring does not apply only to human speech. English commonly uses it for soft, continuous, indistinct sounds made by water, wind, crowds, or leaves. This figurative use makes a nonhuman sound seem faintly voice-like.
Authors may describe a stream as murmuring because its movement creates a low, repeated sound. The expression does not mean that the stream literally speaks. It creates an impression of gentle movement and steady sound, often making a setting feel peaceful or secluded.
The phrase “murmur of conversation” is especially common. It refers to many low voices blending together so that an individual word is difficult to identify. You might hear the murmur of conversation in a restaurant, waiting room, reception, or crowded classroom.
Other natural or environmental examples include:
the murmur of a distant crowd
the murmur of waves along the shore
the murmur of wind through tall grass
the murmur of leaves in the trees
the murmur of water beneath a footbridge
In these examples, murmur is usually positive or neutral. It creates a sense of quiet motion rather than conflict. If the sound is loud, sharp, chaotic, or threatening, words such as “roar,” “crash,” “rattle,” or “clamor” may be more accurate.
When murmuring means quiet complaining
Another meaning of murmuring is expressing dissatisfaction in a subdued way. This use often appears when people complain privately rather than making a direct public objection. The complaint may be spoken by one person or shared by a group.
For example, “Residents were murmuring about the proposed construction” suggests that residents were voicing concern, perhaps informally or cautiously. It does not necessarily mean they had organized a formal protest. “Employees murmured against the policy” has a similar sense, although “murmured about” is often more natural in everyday English.
This meaning can carry a mild critical tone. Someone who murmurs may be seen as grumbling indirectly instead of stating a position clearly. In religious, historical, and literary writing, the word may have a stronger sense of distrust, discontent, or resistance.
Useful patterns include:
murmur about something: “They murmured about the price increase.”
murmur against something: “The group murmured against the decision.”
murmur that something happened: “He murmured that the plan would fail.”
murmur among themselves: “The committee members murmured among themselves.”
a murmur of discontent: “A murmur of discontent spread through the audience.”
“Murmuring” is weaker and less direct than “protesting,” “objecting,” or “complaining openly.” If people clearly state their disagreement or take public action, one of those stronger terms will usually communicate the situation more precisely.
What murmuring means in religious and biblical language
In religious writing, especially biblical discussion, murmuring often refers to complaining against God, leaders, or difficult circumstances. The word may describe a community expressing distrust or dissatisfaction rather than quietly making a neutral sound.
Several passages in the Bible use the idea of people complaining or disputing in response to hardship, uncertainty, food shortages, leadership decisions, or fear. English translations vary in their wording, so a passage may use “murmur,” “grumble,” “complain,” or a related expression.
For example, the Israelites’ complaints during their wilderness journey are often discussed as murmuring. In that context, the term is not simply about speaking softly. It describes a spiritual and communal attitude of distrust, dissatisfaction, or resistance. The meaning comes from the situation and the passage’s broader message.
The New Testament also includes instructions against grumbling or disputing among believers. When studying a specific verse, check the translation and surrounding verses rather than treating “murmuring” as a universal technical term. A Bible reference can be explained accurately without assuming that every translation uses the same English word.
For Bible study: Read the full passage and compare the translation’s wording with the surrounding events. In religious contexts, “murmuring” often describes an attitude of complaint or distrust, not merely a quiet voice.
How to use murmuring correctly in a sentence
“Murmuring” can function as part of a continuous verb phrase, a participle describing an action, or a noun-related modifier. The correct form depends on the sentence structure.
As a continuous verb, it follows a form of be: “She was murmuring a prayer.” As a participial phrase, it can provide additional information: “Murmuring softly, he left the room.” It can also appear before a noun in a descriptive phrase, as in “the murmuring stream.”
When the words being spoken are included, English commonly uses murmur + that-clause, murmur + quoted words, or murmur + noun. Examples include “He murmured that he understood,” “She murmured, ‘I’m sorry,’” and “The baby murmured a few sounds.”
Examples with different meanings
“The student was murmuring the answer under her breath.” This describes quiet speech.
“A murmuring crowd gathered outside the building.” This describes low, blended conversation.
“He murmured an apology before sitting down.” This suggests a soft, restrained statement.
“The creek murmured over the rocks.” This uses the word for a natural sound.
“Neighbors were murmuring about the sudden change.” This suggests quiet dissatisfaction or concern.
Notice that the object changes the impression. A person may murmur a name, prayer, apology, reply, warning, or complaint. The noun after the verb helps readers understand whether the act is affectionate, nervous, respectful, unclear, or unhappy.
Common mistakes when using murmuring
Because several related words describe low speech, writers sometimes use “murmuring” when a more exact term would be clearer. The following checks can help you select the right word.
Do not use it for every quiet voice. If the speaker is deliberately keeping a secret, “whispering” may be more precise. If the speech is difficult to understand, “mumbling” may fit better.
Do not assume it always means complaining. A person can murmur affectionately, prayerfully, or calmly. The complaint meaning requires a suitable context.
Do not use it for loud or sudden sounds. A shout, crash, roar, or cry is not a murmur because murmuring implies low volume or subdued quality.
Check the preposition. “Murmur about the problem” is natural for a quiet complaint. “Murmur the problem” usually sounds incomplete unless the problem itself is being spoken.
Avoid repeating the same idea. “He murmured quietly” may be acceptable, but “quietly” can be unnecessary because the verb already implies low sound.
Match the emotional tone. Use “muttered” for stronger irritation, “whispered” for secrecy, and “mumbled” for unclear pronunciation when those details matter.
A common mistake in creative writing is using “murmured” as a replacement for every dialogue tag. The word adds a specific quality to speech. If a character says something clearly and confidently, “said” may be more accurate and less distracting.
When murmuring may describe a health-related sound
In medicine, a heart murmur is an unusual sound heard during a heartbeat, usually with a stethoscope. It is caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart or nearby blood vessels. The term is different from ordinary murmuring speech, even though both involve a soft or indistinct sound.
A heart murmur is a clinical finding, not a diagnosis by itself. Some murmurs are harmless, while others can be associated with heart conditions. A healthcare professional decides whether further evaluation is needed based on the person’s age, symptoms, medical history, and the sound’s characteristics.
You should not interpret the everyday word “murmuring” as evidence of a medical problem. If a person has symptoms such as chest discomfort, fainting, unusual shortness of breath, blue lips, or sudden severe weakness, seek prompt medical care. Questions about a heart murmur should be discussed with a qualified clinician rather than answered from the word alone.
Murmuring is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable: MUR-mur-ing. The base verb is murmur, and the ending -ing forms the present participle or gerund.
The word can appear in several grammatical roles:
Present continuous verb: “They are murmuring in the hallway.”
Participial phrase: “Murmuring under his breath, he checked the figures again.”
Gerund: “Murmuring during the ceremony was distracting.”
Adjective-like modifier: “A murmuring stream ran beside the path.”
The past tense is murmured, and the base form is murmur. The word is regular, so it does not change to an irregular past-tense form.
Synonyms that change the meaning slightly
The best synonym depends on what you want to emphasize. “Speaking softly” is a plain description, while “murmuring” adds a sense of low, continuous, or indistinct sound. Other choices carry their own associations.
Whispering: very quiet speech, often intended to remain private.
Muttering: low speech that often suggests annoyance or dissatisfaction.
Mumbling: unclear or poorly articulated speech.
Grumbling: complaining, usually with an irritated tone.
Rustling: a soft sound made by leaves, paper, fabric, or similar materials.
Humming: a continuous musical or tonal sound, sometimes made with closed lips.
Susurration: a literary term for a whispering or rustling sound.
For clear everyday writing, “speaking quietly” may be preferable when you want no emotional suggestion. Choose “murmuring” when the low or indistinct quality of the sound matters to the reader.
How to choose between murmuring and stronger alternatives
Ask what the reader needs to understand: the volume, the clarity, the purpose, or the emotion. If volume is the main point, “murmured” works well. If secrecy is central, choose “whispered.” If anger is central, “muttered” or “grumbled” may communicate more accurately.
If you are describing a natural setting, consider the sound’s texture. A stream or crowd may murmur because the sound is soft, sustained, and blended. A storm, waterfall, or packed stadium may produce a louder sound that calls for a different verb.
The most precise sentence is not always the most dramatic one. In dialogue, a simple “said” often keeps attention on the words. Use “murmured” when the manner of speaking adds information that the dialogue itself does not provide.
Frequently asked questions
Is murmuring positive or negative?
It can be either. “Murmuring” is neutral when it describes quiet speech or a soft natural sound. It may suggest tenderness, prayer, nervousness, or secrecy. In phrases about groups murmuring against a decision, it usually means expressing dissatisfaction or distrust. The surrounding nouns, verbs, and situation determine the tone.
Does murmuring mean whispering?
Not exactly. Both words describe quiet speech, but whispering usually emphasizes privacy or an effort not to be heard. Murmuring emphasizes a low, soft, or indistinct quality and does not necessarily suggest secrecy. A person may murmur a prayer, apology, or affectionate remark in a situation where no one is trying to hide the words.
What is the difference between murmuring and mumbling?
Murmuring mainly describes the quiet delivery of speech, while mumbling emphasizes unclear pronunciation or poor articulation. Someone can murmur clearly enough for you to understand every word. Someone who mumbles may speak at a reasonable volume but still be difficult to understand because the sounds are not formed distinctly.
What does murmuring mean in the Bible?
In many biblical discussions, murmuring refers to quiet complaint, grumbling, or dissatisfaction directed toward God, leaders, or difficult circumstances. The exact wording differs among Bible translations, so a passage may use “murmur,” “grumble,” or “complain.” Read the surrounding verses to understand the specific situation and spiritual meaning.
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