chatter
Americanverb (used without object)
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chatters,
present (3rd person singular)
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chattered,
past participle, past
-
chattering
present participle
-
to talk rapidly in a foolish or purposeless way; jabber.
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to utter a succession of quick, inarticulate, speechlike sounds, as monkeys or certain birds.
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to make a rapid clicking noise by striking together.
His teeth were chattering from the cold.
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Machinery. (of a cutting tool or piece of metal) to vibrate during cutting so as to produce surface flaws on the work.
verb (used with object)
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chatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chattered,
past participle, past
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chattering
present participle
-
to utter rapidly or purposelessly.
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to cause to chatter, as the teeth from cold.
noun
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purposeless or foolish talk.
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a series of waves or ridges on the surface of a piece of metal that has been imperfectly drawn or extruded.
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the act or sound of chattering.
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online, phone, radio, or other electronic communication among people, often involving a harmful political activity such as espionage or terrorism.
Officials were able to intercept and identify a high level of terrorist chatter in the weeks before the bombing attempt.
verb
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to speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly; prattle
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(intr) (of birds, monkeys, etc) to make rapid repetitive high-pitched noises resembling human speech
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(intr) (of the teeth) to click together rapidly through cold or fear
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(intr) to make rapid intermittent contact with a component, as in machining, causing irregular cutting
noun
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idle or foolish talk; gossip
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the high-pitched repetitive noise made by a bird, monkey, etc
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the rattling of objects, such as parts of a machine
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Also called: chatter mark. the undulating pattern of marks in a machined surface from the vibration of the tool or workpiece
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chattersimple
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chatterssimple
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have chatteredperfect
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has chatteredperfect
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am chatteringprogressive
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are chatteringprogressive
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is chatteringprogressive
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have been chatteringperfect progressive
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has been chatteringperfect progressive
Past
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chatteredsimple
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had chatteredperfect
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was chatteringprogressive
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were chatteringprogressive
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had been chatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chatter
1200–50; Middle English chateren; imitative
Explanation
To chatter is to talk lightly or casually — to shoot the breeze or chitchat. You might chatter with your workmates about the weather or where you'll eat lunch. You probably chatter with your friends all the time without even thinking about it, gossiping or talking about unimportant things. You can call the talk itself chatter too: "The chatter in the cafeteria was so loud I couldn't hear myself think." In the 13th century, it was chateren, from an imitative Middle English root.
Vocabulary lists containing chatter
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But at a pro-separatist watch party in Edmonton, the hum of upbeat chatter quickly quieted as those present saw the projected results.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
The moves, and the chatter among expatriates about possibly leaving Saudi Arabia, have stirred resentment among some Saudis who feel well-heeled foreigners have not stuck by their side.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
Much of the online chatter focused on speculation about what punishment the students received.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Cocktail-party chatter recounting fortunes made simply by living in the same home for 20 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Mrs. Hameed ignores the chatter and goes on teaching without getting frazzled.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
"I had no one to talk to all day -- to the point my mouth almost felt stale from not speaking. But then this little one came along and chatters with me all the time."
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
Bates chatters in almost every recap of the previous episode.
From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2024
She describes him as a social butterfly who chatters away in a "cute little whistle tone" and loves annoying the adult penguins "like any typical toddler would".
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2024
Email your questions and chatters to [email protected] or Tweet us @SlateGabfest.
From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2023
“What a great photo of you! I’m going to make sure I get extra copies of the paper,” she chatters cheerfully as she tugs on my socks before putting on my sneakers.
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
Then gossips chattered that a huge “bear raid,” or manipulation of stocks by short sellers, would be launched the following morning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
Supporters dressed in pink – their candidate's favourite colour – chattered in anticipation of her arrival.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
Dozens of schoolmates chattered happily under the pines, kicking a soccer ball on sun-streaked grass, climbing a play structure and scarfing down pizza.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025
The upperclasswomen covertly reviewed us like swimsuit models for poise and grace, sipping on Diet Cokes and whispering as we all chattered nervously.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2023
The family completely ignored my mom’s request and chattered among themselves about what would happen if Wilfrido won the vote.
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
"Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff," White added.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
As the sky darkened over the white stucco church framed in palm trees and the dry peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains, fringed teenagers made their way inside, shaking their limbs and chattering in excitement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
“Game recognizes game,” the aide who’d been chattering in his ear said as they walked away.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
It was the topic du jour among the chattering class, with notable voices like the women of the “The View,” Chelsea Handler and a former “Real Housewife of Beverly Hills” weighing in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
He placed his hands on the sides of Pong's chattering jaw and turned his face one way and then the other, as though he weren't quite convinced the face really belonged to his old friend.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
