1672 J. Vanbrugh Mistake iv. i Certain Immotions, which—um—cause, as one may suppose, a sort of convulsive—yes—Hurricanious—um—Like in short; a Woman, is like the Devil.

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. xxx. 101 ‘Madam—I cannot excuse myself[’]—um, um, um, um, um, um..—‘I must own to you, Madam, that [etc.]’.

1933 P. MacDonald Myst. Dead Police viii. 63 ‘I don't think,’ she said, ‘that you two know each other..Mr. Revel—Captain Um-ha’.

1974 C. Hampton Savages v. 39 I publish, I mean I have had published, a few what we used to call slim volumes of verse, um, poetry, you know.

1781 R. B. Sheridan Trip to Scarborough iii. ii Love[less]. (Kissing her.) In matters of love, a woman's oath is no more to be minded than a man's. Ber. Um!

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. x. 229 ‘Was this selection of studies Rashleigh's choice, or your own, Miss Vernon?’ asked I. ‘Um!’ said she, as if hesitating to answer my question.

1844 A. Smith Adventures Mr. Ledbury I. xiii. 174 Um! I don't see the..necessity.

1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner ii. 19 ‘Is it..the Victoria Cross?’ she asked. ‘Um—yes,’ admitted White.

1913 J. Vaizey College Girl vii. 98 ‘Shall I tell you?’.. ‘Um!’ ‘Very well, then.’

1964 L. Deighton Funeral in Berlin xlii. 271 ‘You knew I was working for the Israeli Intelligence.’ ‘Is that who you work for?’ I said... ‘Um,’ she said.

1974 N. Freeling Dressing of Diamond 49 ‘Um,’ said Vera vaguely... The ‘um’ was only a symbol.

1913 R. Kipling Songs from Bks. 74 Sometimes in a smoking-room, through clouds of ‘Ers’ and ‘Ums’.

1962 P. Purser Peregrination 22 vii. 35 I ummed in agreement.

1980 J. O'Faolain No Country for Young Men iii. 67 I drink to doubt..and stutters and ums and ahs. Beware of the smooth-speaker.