babbling
1 of 2noun
bab·bling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: idle, foolish, or nonsensical talk or chatter
… the … remarks would have been nothing short of treason, if they had not been so obviously the mere babblings of an irresponsible lunatic.
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse2
: the production of meaningless strings of speech sounds by infants
Babbling usually coincides with the beginning of one-handed reaching and rhythmic hand activity. M. R. Hiller
M. R. Hillerbabbling
2 of 2adjective
1
a
: talking idly or foolishly
a babbling drunk
b
: producing meaningless speech sounds
a babbling baby
2
: producing a quiet, continuous sound (such as the sound of flowing water)
a babbling brook
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Children can’t get enough of the Minions, which are essentially toddlers themselves, needy and nonsensical in their babbling but sweet and vulnerable. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 July 2022 This indicates that babbling is a widespread and natural developmental process in parrots. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 June 2022 For example, if one nestling is given corticosterone, did all its siblings’ babbling increase? Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 June 2022 The lags were seen in behaviors such as rolling over, reaching for objects or babbling—basic milestones of infancy. Carey Goldberg, Fortune, 9 June 2022 And some of it (those transcripts, Jack and Neal high and babbling) is unreadable. James Parker, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2022 But as much as this behavior seemed like human babbling, scientists hadn’t formally compared the two, says co-author Mirjam Knörnschild, a behavioral ecologist also at MNH. Cathleen O’grady, Science | AAAS, 19 Aug. 2021 In the background of her messages were the sounds of many people talking and walking around, children playing and babbling. Luciana Lopez, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2021 Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 When Sarah and Justin Arrington bought a gorgeous parcel of land—complete with rolling hills, winding trails, and a babbling creek—their plans for a future forever home were intentional and hard-won. Lauren Helmer, al, 21 Mar. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 See More
Noun
Leno asked about Koy’s 2-year-old son, and in the euphoria of the moment, Koy riffed on his baby boy‘s babbling, unlike his son’s more articulate playmate. San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Children can’t get enough of the Minions, which are essentially toddlers themselves, needy and nonsensical in their babbling but sweet and vulnerable. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 July 2022 This indicates that babbling is a widespread and natural developmental process in parrots. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 June 2022 For example, if one nestling is given corticosterone, did all its siblings’ babbling increase? Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 June 2022 The lags were seen in behaviors such as rolling over, reaching for objects or babbling—basic milestones of infancy. Carey Goldberg, Fortune, 9 June 2022 And some of it (those transcripts, Jack and Neal high and babbling) is unreadable. James Parker, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2022 But as much as this behavior seemed like human babbling, scientists hadn’t formally compared the two, says co-author Mirjam Knörnschild, a behavioral ecologist also at MNH. Cathleen O’grady, Science | AAAS, 19 Aug. 2021 In the background of her messages were the sounds of many people talking and walking around, children playing and babbling. Luciana Lopez, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2021 Adjective
The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 When Sarah and Justin Arrington bought a gorgeous parcel of land—complete with rolling hills, winding trails, and a babbling creek—their plans for a future forever home were intentional and hard-won. Lauren Helmer, al, 21 Mar. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
babblings
noun
as in babbles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- babbles
- ramblings
- prattles
- jabbers
- rumors
- chatter
- gabbles
- whispers
- drivel
- blabs
- jabberings
- mumbles
- mutters
- undertones
- murmurs
- grunts