babble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "babble" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of talking rapidly and continuously in a foolish or nonsensical way, often without making much sense. Example: "The children began to babble excitedly about their day at the amusement park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everywhere you went in Paris during the revolt in Tunisia, portable televisions blared at top volume in shops, takeaways and cafes, broadcasting a polyglot, polyphonic babble from Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and the French-speaking channels from the Maghreb.

The Guardian

If you ignore the babble, however, and can afford the price-tag, then there can't be many better ways of enjoying such an experience.

The Guardian - Travel

She does not exactly babble – she is clearly far too intelligent for that – but her thoughts tumble over one another as she talks about making movies, her kids, her native Belgium and how she thrives on her cosy routines.

The Guardian - Film

Stopping Pulp Fiction from being made would have saved me a lot of personal strife – especially all the strife I encountered studying film at university during its relative afterglow, where people would pad out their hokey three-minute plots with swath​s and swath​s of tedious babble about continental hamburgers and the imagined subtexts hidden within Ach​y Breaky Heart.

The Guardian - Film

Philip Tetlock: Leonore Annenberg University professor of Psychology and Management, University of Pennsylvania Dan Gardner: journalist and author of "Future Babble: Why Pundits Are Hedgehogs and Foxes Know Best" (Plume).

The Economist

Lately, the babble on Wall Street has been louder than ever.

The Economist

Dr Atkinson's paper appears in Science, Dr Dunn's in Nature.Travellers' talesIn this section Babel or babble?

The Economist

The characters babble in chipmunk voices, spouting dialogue that is mostly scripted but seems improvised.

The Economist

After the losses of Challenger and Columbia, America's shuttle fleet was grounded, which explains the big drop in missions following both accidents.In this section Babel or babble?

The Economist

Instead of a thrilling clash of titans, debates could turn into a babble of jargon between unknowns.

The Economist

In articles from the 1920s to the 1940s Savarkar lambasted Gandhi as a "crazy lunatic" who "happens to babble...[about] compassion, forgiveness", yet "notwithstanding his sublime and broad heart, the Mahatma has a very narrow and immature head".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "babble" to describe speech, consider the context. Is it meant to convey incoherence, excessive talking, or the revealing of a secret? Choose the word whose nuance best fits your intent.

Common error

Avoid using "babble" in formal or academic writing when more precise terms like "discuss at length" or "elaborate" would be more appropriate. "Babble" often carries a connotation of triviality or foolishness, which might not be the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The word "babble" functions primarily as both a verb, describing the act of speaking indistinctly or incoherently, and as a noun, referring to idle talk or a murmuring sound. Ludwig indicates that the term is acceptable and applicable in diverse scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "babble" is a versatile term functioning as both a verb and a noun, generally acceptable in written English. As indicated by Ludwig, it describes incoherent or excessive talking and evokes natural murmuring sounds. While very common in general, its usage should be carefully considered in formal contexts where more precise terms might be necessary. Its primary contexts include News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, and sources like The Economist, The Guardian, and Encyclopedia Britannica often employ it. When choosing "babble", it's crucial to evaluate whether the intended meaning aligns with its connotations of incoherence, triviality, or gentle murmuring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chatter

Refers to rapid, continuous talk, often about unimportant matters, differing from "babble" by implying less incoherence.

prattle

Suggests foolish or inconsequential talk, similar to "babble" but with a stronger connotation of silliness.

blather

Implies lengthy, foolish talk, often about nothing in particular; more negative than "babble".

ramble

Describes speaking or writing at length without a clear direction or point, unlike "babble" which focuses on incoherence or excessive talk.

murmur

Refers to a low, indistinct sound made by a number of people, or a quiet continuous sound, overlapping with "babble" when describing background noise.

gurgle

Specifically relates to the sound of liquid flowing irregularly, a subset of the sounds "babble" can describe.

ripple

Describes a gentle, spreading disturbance, which is metaphorical when used as a synonym for "babble" in the context of sound.

let the cat out of the bag

An idiom meaning to reveal a secret, which is one specific meaning of "babble".

spill the beans

Similar to "let the cat out of the bag", this means to reveal a secret, aligning with one less common use of "babble".

blurt out

To say something suddenly and without careful consideration, similar to revealing a secret as a form of "babble".

FAQs

How can I use "babble" in a sentence?

You can use "babble" as a verb to describe someone speaking rapidly and incoherently, for example, "The children began to babble excitedly." Or, you can use it as a noun to describe idle talk or a murmuring sound, like "the babble of the stream".

What's the difference between "chatter" and "babble"?

While both "chatter" and "babble" refer to rapid talk, "chatter" often implies light, inconsequential talk, whereas "babble" suggests incoherence or excessive talkativeness.

Is it correct to use "babble" to describe the sound of a stream?

Yes, "babble" can be used to describe the sound of water flowing gently, often around obstructions, evoking a pleasant, murmuring sound.

Can "babble" mean to reveal a secret?

Yes, one less common meaning of "babble" is to reveal a secret, similar to phrases like "spill the beans" or "let the cat out of the bag".