rumble

Pluralrumbles

Formsrumbles, rumbling, rumbled

1. 1
   a deep noisenouncountable

   A deep, heavy sound that continues steadily, such as distant thunder or a growling stomach.

   A deep rumble rolled across the valley before the rain began.

   His empty stomach gave a loud rumble during the meeting.

   UsageOften the rumble of + its source: the rumble of thunder, of passing trucks.

   Similargrowl, boom, roll, roar

2. 2
   make deep noiseverbintransitive

   To produce a low, heavy, continuous sound.

   The engine rumbled steadily as it idled in the cold.

   Distant guns rumble across the plain at night.

   UsageCommon with engines, thunder and stomachs: my stomach is rumbling.

   Similarroar, growl, thunder, boom, drone

3. 3
   move noisilyverbintransitive

   To move along while producing a low, rumbling sound.

   The freight train rumbled through the valley after midnight.

   Tanks rumble through the streets during the parade.

   UsageUsually with a path: rumble through, rumble over, rumble past.

   Similartrundle, roll, rattle, thunder, lumber

   Note

   A truck rumbles over a rough road, and a train rumbles over the Forth Bridge in Arthur F. Beckenham's "With British Railways to the Far North" (1950). It stretches to people too. Writing in 2021, David Hytner has the footballer Shaw "rumble upfield," a heavy, driving run that the reader can almost hear. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Arthur F. Beckenham wrote “With British Railways to the Far North”, published in January 1950 in Railway Magazine. gnsra.org.uk
   • Beckenham's article describes a train rumbling over the Forth Bridge. en.wiktionary.org
   • David Hytner used “rumble upfield” about footballer Luke Shaw in 2021. theguardian.com
4. 4
   a gang fightnounslangcountable

   A street fight or brawl, especially one between rival groups.

   The whole block still talks about the rumble that emptied the bar.

   Rival crews settled their feud in a rumble down by the docks.

   UsageUse a rumble between two groups to name the opposing sides: a rumble between rival gangs.

   Similarbrawl, fight, scuffle, melee, fracas

5. 5
   vibrate (games)verbintransitive

   To vibrate in order to provide haptic feedback, as a game controller does.

   Modern controllers rumble to signal collisions and explosions.

   The handset rumbled softly as the engine revved on screen.

   UsageThe device is the subject: the controller rumbles.

   Similarvibrate, buzz

   Note

   Gaming borrowed the word for something felt rather than heard. The link to the sound verb is easy to sense, since a vibrating handset gives the hand a low, continuous shudder.

6. 6
   fight each otherverbslangintransitive

   To take part in a street fight or brawl.

   The crews rumbled behind the warehouse last night.

   Disrespect them and they will rumble without a second thought.

   UsageUsually no object: the crews rumbled. With a person as object, rumble someone usually means find them out.

   Similarfight, brawl, scrap, clash

   Note

   The verb half of the slang pair, as casual in register as the street fight. It is usually intransitive: crews rumble behind a warehouse, though the Jets in West Side Story promise to "rumble 'em right."

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