babbling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'babbling' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is talking on and on without pausing or making sense. For example, "I couldn't understand a word she said because she was babbling so quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps Mr Coelho, UN Messenger of Peace, World Ambassador to Literature, believes that serious contemporary authors suffer from some Joycean malaise, babbling around the ivory tower, completely ignorant and insensitive to the reading public.Personally, I'll take the modernist legacy over metaphysical masturbation any day.

The Economist

The Lebanese, with nearly 16, pip babbling Britons at the post.

The Economist

The chief executive is babbling about synergies, benefits of rationalisation and economies of scale.

The Economist

His aunts Eva and Daniela, leaning over his cradle, could discern already "the Master's" nose and chin, and imagine his baby lips babbling the prelude to "Die Meistersinger".

The Economist

Almost all children make babbling sounds during infancy, and no relationship has been established between the amount of babbling during the first six months and the amount or quality of speech produced by a child at age two.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A number of unrelated birds are called thrushes by reason of resemblance to turdids, including the antthrush (see antbird); babbling thrush; jay thrush and Chinese thrush; jewelthrush (see pitta); and wrenthrush.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I have done it in the past but I always apologise to the person at the counter and feel very guilty," said Emma, 23. "It's not always easy to get people off the phone, and if it's someone who is babbling away, you can get locked in your own world".

Independent

With its little packhorse bridge, Allerford is part of the National Trust's 12,000-acre 12,000-acre Holnicote Estateatchwork of babbling brooks, woodland pathways, open fields, rolling coastline, and clusters of cottages.

Independent

They thought I was going to shoot them and one little fellow fell on his knees babbling about his wife and "zwei Kinder".

Independent

But if its omnipresence wasn't fearsome enough, Benjamin Roberts on YouTube laid every episode from season 1 on top of each other, creating 22 minutes of babbling and bubbling visuals in that familiar, warm sitcom hue.

Independent

But amid the apocalyptic scenes, dozens of people were already winding down, smoking nervously, sipping coffees in cafes and babbling to friends about what had happened.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context carefully to determine if "babbling" is the most appropriate word. If the speech is simply fast but coherent, "chattering" might be more suitable.

Common error

While "babbling" implies nonsensical speech, it's important to consider if other terms like "rambling" or "gibbering" might better capture the specific nuance you intend. Overusing "babbling" can make your writing less precise.

Linguistic Context

Babbling primarily functions as a verb, often in its present participle form ("babbling") to describe the act of speaking rapidly, unintelligibly, or nonsensically. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing both human speech and natural sounds, such as a brook. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "babbling" is a versatile word that effectively communicates incoherent or nonsensical speech, and is used to describe the sounds of running water. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically sound and quite common, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While there are various alternatives like "rambling" or "chattering", the best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Use it wisely to bring clarity and descriptive richness to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rambling

Refers to speaking at length in a confused or inconsequential way.

chattering

Implies continuous and rapid talk, often about unimportant matters.

prattling

Suggests foolish or inconsequential talk.

gibbering

Indicates rapid, incoherent speech, often due to fear or excitement.

blathering

Signifies talking foolishly at length.

blithering

Similar to blathering, implying foolish and nonsensical talk.

driveling

Suggests talking stupidly or meaninglessly.

jabbering

Implies rapid and indistinct speech.

wittering

Indicates talking at length about trivial matters.

muttering

Speaking quietly and unclearly, often to oneself.

FAQs

How to use "babbling" in a sentence?

You can use "babbling" to describe someone speaking incoherently, like, "He was "babbling incoherently" after the accident." It can also describe the sound of a stream: "We could hear the "babbling brook" nearby."

What can I say instead of "babbling"?

You can use alternatives like "rambling", "chattering", or "gibbering" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "babbling brook" or "babbling river"?

"Babbling brook" is a more common and idiomatic expression. While "babbling" can technically describe any body of water making a similar sound, "brook" is the more conventional choice.

What's the difference between "babbling" and "muttering"?

"Babbling" implies incoherent or nonsensical speech, while "muttering" refers to speaking quietly and indistinctly, often to oneself. They differ in both volume and clarity.