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Synonyms

clamber

American  
[klam-ber, klam-er] / ˈklæm bər, ˈklæm ər /

verb (used with or without object)

  1. to climb, using both feet and hands; climb with effort or difficulty.

noun

  1. an act or instance of clambering.

clamber British  
/ ˈklæmbə /

verb

  1. to climb (something) awkwardly, esp by using both hands and feet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a climb performed in this manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • clamberer noun

Etymology

Origin of clamber

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English clambren, equivalent to clamb- (akin to climb ) + -r- -er 6 + -en infinitive suffix

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.

Driver Andriy, 53, is one of the first Ukrainian faces many of the freed soldiers see as they clamber onto his bus.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Those lucky enough to snap out of psychosis and regain touch with the tangible world are now building support groups online to help others clamber out.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

As an oncoming train rumbled in the distance, López and her family picked up their luggage in hopes that it would stop or slow down so that they could clamber aboard.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2024

Shop owners and photojournalists clamber over the rubble to inspect the damage.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2024

I clamber to my feet, seeking something to steady me.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell

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.