To babble means to talk rapidly in a way that's hard to understand or doesn't make much sense. When babies babble, they're practicing speech sounds before they know actual words, making streams of “ba-ba-ba” and “da-da-da” noises. When excited friends babble about their favorite video game, they might talk so fast and jump between ideas so quickly that listeners struggle to follow.

The word often suggests talking without much thought or organization. Someone might babble on about a topic, talking continuously without getting to the point. A nervous student might babble through a presentation, speaking too quickly and mixing up their ideas.

As a noun, babble can mean this kind of fast, confusing talk. It can also describe the pleasant, murmuring sound of a brook or stream. Water babbles over rocks and stones, creating a gentle, continuous sound that resembles quiet conversation.