demur

de·mur/dɪˈmɜɹ/verb, noun

demur is spelled D-E-M-U-R: 5 letters and 2 syllables (de·mur). It appears about once in every 17 million words in written English, the 122,704th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, demur means “Chiefly followed by to, and sometimes by at or on: to object or be reluctant; to balk, to take exception” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in demur?

Letters	5: D-E-M-U-R
Syllables	2: de·mur
In writing	about once in every 17 million words; the 122,704th most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searched	none measured in search
Rhymes with	per sir occur refer more

Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.

How common is demur?

Demur appears about once in every 17 million words in written English, the 122,704th most frequent word form in the list.

demur0.0010.010.11101001,00010,000

rarerper million words of written Englishmore common

Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How do you pronounce demur?

UK /dɪˈmɜː/
US /dɪˈmɜɹ/

Demur has 2 syllables, split de·mur in writing.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-demur.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

What rhymes with demur?

The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as demur from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹ/):

Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).

Forms of demur

demurs present, singular, he/she/it, plural
demurring participle, present
demurred participle, past, singular, he/she/it, plural

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does demur mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

verb

1
Chiefly followed by to, and sometimes by at or on: to object or be reluctant; to balk, to take exception.
I demur to that statement.
2
To submit a demurrer (“motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defence, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further”).
3
obsoleteTo endure, to last.
4
obsoleteTo linger, to tarry.
5
obsoleteTo remain, to stay.
6
obsoleteTo suspend judgment or proceedings because of a difficulty or doubt; to put off the conclusion or determination of a matter; to delay, to hesitate, to pause.
7
obsoleterareTo have doubts; to be doubtful.
8
obsoleteFollowed by upon: to be captivated or fixated; to dwell on, to linger.

noun

1
An act of objecting or taking exception; a scruple; also, an exception taken or objection to something.
2
obsoleteAn act of continuing; a continuance.
3
obsoleteAn act of lingering or tarrying.
4
obsoleteAn act of remaining or staying; a residence, a stay.
5
obsoleteA state of having doubts; a hesitation, a pause.
6
obsoleteSynonym of demurrer (“a motion by a party to a legal action for the immediate or summary judgment of the court on the question of whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defence, and hence whether the party bringing the motion is required to answer or proceed further”).