# muttering

Pronunciation: US say "MUT-ur-ing" /ˈmʌtəɹɪŋ/; say "MUT-uh-ring" UK /ˈmʌtəɹɪŋ/, AUS /ˈmɐtəɹɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle of mutter. — present participle and gerund of mutter
   - Simple: Present participle of mutter. Use this form for something happening right now or going on for a while.
   - _The old man kept muttering about the weather as he shuffled along._
   - _Muttering under her breath, she gathered her papers and left._

## Noun

2. Words spoken in a low, indistinct voice, often a complaint or grumble not meant to be heard clearly.
   - Simple: Quiet, unclear words that someone says under their breath.
   - _A low muttering ran through the crowd as the decision was announced._
   - _Her muttering betrayed how unhappy she was with the new schedule._
3. A rumor; unverified talk passing quietly among people, often hinting at trouble or change to come.
   - Simple: Talk that spreads quietly from person to person, often not proven true.
   - _There was muttering at court that the king intended to remarry._
   - _Mutterings of an impending strike spread quickly across the factory floor._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/muttering (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).