vroom

/vruːm/
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An engine-like sound used directly, named as a noise, or turned into an informal verb for fast, noisy motion.

Examples

  • The vroom of the motorcycle startled the pedestrians.
  • The film added an exaggerated vroom to every chase scene.
  • The sports car vroomed past the cafe.
  • Engines vroomed outside the stadium after the race.
  • Vroom, the race car shot off the line.

Similar words

buzz
race
hurtle
hum
broom
rumble
zoom
growl
rev
brrm

Meanings

Imitating an engine

interjection
transport
informal
A written or spoken engine noise, especially the sound of a car revving or racing past.

Examples

  • Vroom, the race car shot off the line.
  • The toddler pushed the toy truck and said vroom vroom.
  • In the comic strip, every chase panel was filled with vroom.
  • The bike sped past with a sharp vroom.
  • He made a loud vroom before pretending to drive away.

Similar words

Revving engine sound

noun
sound
informal
A revving or racing engine sound, often heard as a loud burst from a car, motorcycle, or toy vehicle.

Examples

  • The vroom of the motorcycle startled the pedestrians.
  • A sudden vroom came from the garage.
  • The film added an exaggerated vroom to every chase scene.
  • She loved the little vroom the toy car made.
  • The mechanic listened for a clean vroom after the repair.

Similar words

Move or rev noisily

verb
movement
informal
To move quickly or noisily like a vehicle, or to make a vehicle produce a revving sound.

Examples

  • The sports car vroomed past the cafe.
  • Toy cars vroomed across the rug all afternoon.
  • The motorcycle vrooms away from the lights.
  • He vroomed the model car around the table.
  • Engines vroomed outside the stadium after the race.

Similar words

Etymology

An imitative English formation that echoes the sound of a revving engine, with dictionary evidence placing modern use in the 1960s.

FAQ

What does vroom mean?

Vroom imitates the sound of a revving engine and can also name that sound or describe fast, noisy motion.

Is vroom a noun, verb, or interjection?

Vroom can be all three: a direct engine sound, a noun for the sound, and an informal verb.

How is vroom used as an interjection?

It is written or spoken as the noise itself, as in vroom vroom during play or a chase scene.

How is vroom used as a noun?

It names a revving engine sound, especially a short, loud burst from a car or motorcycle.

How is vroom used as a verb?

It means to move quickly or noisily like a vehicle, or to make a vehicle sound that way.

Is vroom formal?

No. Vroom is informal and playful, though it can appear in journalism or advertising for vivid effect.

How is vroom pronounced?

Vroom is commonly pronounced /vruːm/.

Where does vroom come from?

Vroom is imitative, formed to echo the sound of a revving engine.

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