hum·drum

[huhm-druhm]
adjective
1.
lacking variety; boring; dull: a humdrum existence.
noun
2.
humdrum character or routine; monotony.
3.
monotonous or tedious talk.
4.
Archaic. a dull, boring person.

Origin:
1545–55; earlier humtrum, rhyming compound based on hum

hum·drum·ness, noun


1. tedious, routine, mundane, tiresome.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To humdrum
00:10
Humdrum is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
humdrum (ˈhʌmˌdrʌm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  ordinary; dull
 
n
2.  a monotonous routine, task, or person
 
[C16: rhyming compound, probably based on hum]
 
'humdrumness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

humdrum
"routine, monotonous," 1553, probably a reduplication of hum.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
From fancy cuisine to humble sandwiches, eating healthy need not be humdrum.
Not only is this evidence humdrum at best, it is weak as stated.
Life in the trenches around the besieged cities became routine and humdrum.
Bengals' defense better, offense humdrum as season winds down.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT