banter
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
banters,
present (3rd person singular)
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bantered,
past participle, past
-
bantering
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
banters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bantered,
past participle, past
-
bantering
present participle
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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banterernoun
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outbanterverb (used with object)
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unbanteringadjective
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banteringlyadverb
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unbanteringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bantersimple
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banterssimple
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have banteredperfect
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has banteredperfect
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am banteringprogressive
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are banteringprogressive
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is banteringprogressive
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have been banteringperfect progressive
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has been banteringperfect progressive
Past
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banteredsimple
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had banteredperfect
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was banteringprogressive
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were banteringprogressive
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had been banteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of banter
First recorded in 1660–70; origin uncertain
Explanation
Good friends usually banter back and forth easily, like they're trying to keep a step ahead of each other in witty responses. This type of banter is their special language of friendship. Banter is both a noun and a verb about talking. It comes from unknown origins, but even as a word, it seems to be playful and teasing. You can engage in banter with friends, siblings, parents, and even good-natured strangers. Banter usually ends with everyone feeling better for the talk and verbal play. Joking, joshing, and teasing are all related to banter.
Vocabulary lists containing banter
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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:
He grew up on a dairy farm and remembers his father talking about people at harvest time, helping each other out then sharing "a bit of craic and banter".
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Hosted by Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay - the first woman to host in 15 years - the ceremony was packed with cameos from celebrities, emotional speeches, touching tributes and plenty of banter.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
According to the report, some officers, including Jong and McKay, acknowledged that the office banter sometimes crossed the line, but they denied that there was anything malicious about their comments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The voices of the characters come through as though we’re eavesdropping from a discreet distance on their banter and squabbles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Watching him stand there in his suit, I can picture him in a black-and-white Hollywood romantic comedy trading witty banter with his heroine.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Bergstrom, 41, spends most nights on a live-shopping app called Whatnot, where hosts like him auction collectibles in real time to an audience that simultaneously banters and bids on his goods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
But he makes frequent appearances on Israeli TV and radio, displaying a cheerful demeanor, quit wit and knack for deflecting criticism as he banters with his hosts.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
On the campaign trail, Duterte-Carpio banters with her audience and switches easily back and forth between Tagalog, effectively the national language, and Visayan, a language of the central and southern Philippines and her mother tongue.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2022
Miranda usually spends his time taking requests from listeners, with whom he playfully banters in Mexican slang from all regions of the country.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2021
The Débats, says M. Texier, is ingenious, has tact without enthusiasm, banters with taste, and scuds before the wind with a grace which only belongs to a fin voilier—to a fast sailing clipper.
From The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 by Various
He bantered with Maher, who supports the measure, and drew applause from the studio audience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
As the stars bantered about the film, hundreds of other fans swarmed the main lobby waiting to get into the second sold-out screening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024
Welsh actors Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Jonathan Pryce bantered about who was the more Welsh on the set of their latest film, its director has said.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary bantered about the jets being too expensive.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2023
“Hey, Martin,” Fischer bantered through his oxygen mask, trying to affect a jocular tone.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
He was in his 80s then, but still vibrant—rarely seated, moving easily around the room and bantering with staff as they passed in and out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
But his awkward dad jokes have raised eyebrows in recent years, with the stalwart host fully committing to an odd voyeurism quip while bantering with White during a 2023 episode.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
"They spent most of the day bantering about which of them was the more Welsh."
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
He watched as his team batted at the start of what would be a roughly five-hour match, bantering about cricket and careers with the players, who huddled on bleachers under a small square of shade.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2023
Over the following days, however, I came to learn not to be surprised by such remarks from my employer, and would smile in the correct manner whenever I detected the bantering tone in his voice.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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