um

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Expression of hesitation, uncertainty or space filler in conversation.

   • Um, I don’t know.
   • Let’s see... um... how about this?
   • It's a great test of the claims of open-source gurus, who say that a self-motivated community can outcode any team working for a single employer—like, um, Microsoft.
2. 2

   Dated spelling of mmm.

   • "About the same, wherever you go," he agreed. "Um," I said.
3. 3

   An expression to forcefully call attention to something wrong.

   • Um, excuse me!
4. ›+ 8 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      An expression of shocked disapproval used by a child who witnesses forbidden behavior.

      • While I was in her room, Sam walked by and said, “Um, I'm telling!” “You're telling what?” I asked. “You're reading Tori's journal,” she said.
      • Mair used to look after Laura. If anyone threatened to tease her, Mair would stand up straight, point her finger at the enemy and shout, 'Um! I'm telling on you!'
   2. 5

      To make the um sound to express uncertainty or hesitancy.

      • Meanwhile, in the popular mind umming was simply a bad habit, akin to spitting or picking one’s nose.
   3. 6

      An occurrence of the interjection "um".

   4. 7

      An undifferentiated determiner or article

      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.

      • Me be Injun. Him um Growling Bear. Him um heap big chief.
      • “me heap brave—me talk to um white man so[…] me good injun, like um white man, mebbe so, ugh!”
   5. 8

      Initialism of University of Miami.

   6. 9

      Initialism of University of Michigan.

   7. 10

      Initialism of unmounted mint.

   8. 11

      A surname from Korean.

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