What does hummer mean?
A hummer is something that produces a hum: commonly a person who habitually hums songs or melodies, a device that makes a steady humming noise, or, in informal North American English, a hummingbird. The usual sense carries a warm, playful connotation when applied to a person, suggesting someone cheerful, relaxed, or absorbed in making music. Applied to a machine, it simply identifies something that emits a continuous low or resonant sound. The word is also associated with hummingbirds, whose rapid wingbeats can accompany a soft humming sound, although “hummingbird” remains the standard general term. Overall, “hummer” is an informal, expressive noun that is more memorable and personable than the more technical term “humming device”.
nounA person or thing that hums, or a continuous humming sound. In informal North American usage, a hummer may also mean a hummingbird.
- A person who habitually hums.
- A continuous humming sound, especially one made by a machine.
- Informally, a hummingbird, particularly in North America.
"A quiet hummer sat beside the open window."
"She was a cheerful hummer who brightened the office with a tune all day."
"The old refrigerator filled the kitchen with a low hummer."
"A hummingbird—called a hummer in some parts of North America—hovered near the feeder."
Used for multiple humming people, devices, sounds, or, informally, hummingbirds.
"Several hummers gathered around the flower bed."
A hummer gets its name from the very sound it makes: a steady, musical “hum.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hummer come from?
“Hummer” was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix “-er” to “hum,” meaning to make a continuous low sound. The word “hum” is imitative in origin, reflecting the voiced sound it names. The derived form naturally came to denote an agent or instrument that produces such a sound.
How hummer is actually used
The word is most often informal and affectionate when describing a person who hums. Its use for a hummingbird is especially associated with informal North American English.
Easily confused with hummer
A hum is the sound itself, whereas a hummer is a person, device, or bird that produces a humming sound.