chitchat
Americannoun
-
chitchats
plural
verb (used without object)
-
chitchats,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chitchatted,
past participle, past
-
chitchatting
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
chitchatsimple
-
chitchatssimple
-
have chitchattedperfect
-
has chitchattedperfect
-
am chitchattingprogressive
-
are chitchattingprogressive
-
is chitchattingprogressive
-
have been chitchattingperfect progressive
-
has been chitchattingperfect progressive
Past
-
chitchattedsimple
-
had chitchattedperfect
-
was chitchattingprogressive
-
were chitchattingprogressive
-
had been chitchattingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chitchat
First recorded in 1700–10; gradational compound based on chat
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:
She’s seen others pay a price for being edgy, so for breezy chitchat she sticks to asking about summer travel or new movies on Netflix.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Now, generational analysis seems to be everywhere; from TV comedies like Hacks and Only Murders in the Building, to office-place chitchat.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
“You’re walking down the road. You see a coffee spot, get some coffee. Then you chitchat and then keep walking and do the same thing all over and over again.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
And because that’s not something that everyone’s used to, you kind of pretend as if you’re having a little chitchat while being observed by everyone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025
His left eye didn’t line up with whomever he was trying to talk to; when he was in social situations trying to make chitchat, the person to whom he was speaking would steadily drift left.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Usually these World Cup chitchats start with silly icebreakers before the important stuff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
“She’s outgoing, liberal, kind, chitchats a lot, really supportive of her kids’ sports team, goes to everything, she and her husband.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 18, 2018
They also were true events, shows that moved along as entertainment spectacles rather than James Lipton-esque chitchats.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2011
Porter said that she’d ridden the House subway with Lee just the day before and that they’d chitchatted amiably.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2023
As opposed to the prayer service, where congregants prayed using different prayer books, at different paces and chitchatted throughout, Kasich received a polite welcome.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 16, 2016
“It went really good up at Adidas today,” West told Kardashian, and they chitchatted for a minute like any married couple.
From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2015
We chitchatted, I think I said something about liking Blogging the Bible, but then David looked at me and said: “Wait, you're last name is Krule? You must get made fun of all the time.”
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2014
Lance chitchatted with the station anchor for a while.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Studies have also found that chitchatting with strangers or casual acquaintances—psychologists call these “weak ties”—is good for us.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
We were chitchatting a bit about it with some other relatives before the topic changed, but I was fascinated by the ease and simplicity of this approach versus the "classic" technique.
From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2023
Instead of chitchatting while fishing for both your checkbook and a pen to write on, please just swipe a debit card or pay cash while having your money ready.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 11, 2022
At one point, engrossed in chitchatting, I barely noticed that I had clipped through a wall, skipping a section of a level altogether.
From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2021
“No chitchatting today, Henry. That call from Cuba might come in anytime now.”
From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
