What does murmured mean?
“Murmured” is the past tense and past participle of “murmur,” a verb meaning to speak in a low, soft, or indistinct voice. The word often suggests that the speaker is trying not to be heard clearly, although it can also describe quiet speech that is simply gentle or restrained. “She murmured a greeting” conveys a soft, intimate tone, while “He murmured under his breath” implies that the words were meant to remain private or were difficult for others to hear. In formal writing, “murmured” can be used figuratively to describe a low collective sound, as when an audience murmurs in response to an announcement. It is an ordinary word in British and American English, useful when the quality and volume of speech are important to the context.
verbTo speak in a low, soft, or indistinct voice, often so that the words are difficult to hear clearly.
- Spoke in a low, soft, or indistinct voice.
"She murmured an apology and slipped out of the room."
"He murmured that he would be there by noon."
"The audience murmured with dissatisfaction as the announcement was made."
A murmur is more than a quiet voice: it is the sound of words deliberately lowered, softened, or made difficult to distinguish.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does murmured come from?
The word comes through Old French “murmer” from Latin “murmurare,” which is generally understood to be imitative in origin, imitating a low or continuous sound. English has long used “murmur” for both the sound itself and the act of speaking softly. Related forms include “murmurous” and “murmuration,” the latter originally associated with a low murmuring sound and later used for the collective movement of starlings.
Related word forms
How murmured is actually used
“Murmured” is commonly used for speech that is quiet and indistinct, but it can also suggest a restrained or subtly uncertain way of speaking. It is neutral in register and used in both British and American English.
Easily confused with murmured
“Murmur” names the act of speaking softly, whereas “murmured” is the past-tense and past-participle form of that verb.