Meaning & use
purring
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“purring” is a form of “purr”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
The soft, low, continuous vibrating sound a cat makes, usually when it is relaxed or happy.
Grammar: Uncountable noun: the purring grew louder.
Patterns
- the sound of purring
- a gentle purring
The purring of the kitten calmed her after a stressful day.
I could hear loud purring from the sofa.
His purring grew louder as she stroked his back.
verbintransitive
The -ing form of purr: making a soft vibrating sound, as a cat does, or running smoothly and quietly, as an engine does.
Grammar: No object: the cat is purring on my lap.
Patterns
- purring with something
The cat is purring on my lap.
The engine sat purring in the driveway.
She was purring with satisfaction after her promotion.
adjectivebefore a noun
Making a low, soft, smooth sound, or speaking in a soft, pleased tone.
Grammar: Appears before a noun: a purring engine.
Patterns
- a purring something
The purring engine made the car feel luxurious.
He spoke in a purring voice that charmed everyone.
A purring kitten curled up beside me.
Word forms
| base verb | purr |
|---|---|
| third person singular | purrs |
| past tense | purred |
| -ing form | purring |
Common combinations
- purring cat
- A purring cat sat on the windowsill.
- gentle purring
- Gentle purring came from the basket.
- purring contentedly
- The kitten was purring contentedly.
- purring engine
- The purring engine barely made a sound.
- loud purring
- Loud purring woke me up at dawn.
- purring like a kitten
- The motorbike was purring like a kitten after the repair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- humming
- Is a steady musical sound made by many things, while purring is the specific vibrating sound of cats and some engines.
- rumbling
- Is deeper and rougher and suits thunder or large engines.
- murmuring
- Describes soft, low speech, not an animal sound.
- whirring
- Is a faster, mechanical sound, such as a fan or a small motor.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: purring or puring?
purring vs puring
This is a misspelling. The word has a double r: purring.
Practice
The kitten curled in her lap, ____ softly as she stroked it.
Choose one answer.
Purring is the soft contented sound of a cat. Hissing is also a cat sound, but it shows anger or fear, so it does not fit a content kitten.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “purring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.