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
2
: 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
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
Cite this Entry
“Babbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/babbling. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.
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