ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Um

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ʌm/ · Part of speech interjection

Quick meaning: Um is an interjection meaning Expression of hesitation, uncertainty or space filler in conversation.

Meaning

Expression of hesitation, uncertainty or space filler in conversation.

More Meanings

  1. An expression to forcefully call attention to something wrong.
  2. (childish) An expression of shocked disapproval used by a child who witnesses forbidden behavior.
  3. (intransitive) To make the um sound to express uncertainty or hesitancy.
  4. An occurrence of the interjection "um".
  5. (chiefly US) Dated spelling of mmm.
  6. (dated, sometimes humorous, often offensive) An undifferentiated determiner or article; a miscellaneous linking word, or filler with nonspecific meaning; representation of broken English stereotypically or comically attributed to Native Americans.

Example Sentences

Um, excuse me!
Um, I don’t know.
Let’s see... um... how about this?
"About the same, wherever you go," he agreed. "Um," I said.

Synonyms for um

Depending on context, synonyms include er, hmm, uh, eh.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include tiddle, kar, bak, ep, tre, uh.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.