banter

[ban-ter]

See more synonyms for banter on Thesaurus.com

noun

an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery.

verb (used with object)

to address with banter; chaff.

verb (used without object)

to use banter.

Origin of banter

First recorded in 1660–70; origin uncertain

Related formsban·ter·er, nounban·ter·ing·ly, adverbout·ban·ter, verb (used with object)un·ban·ter·ing, adjectiveun·ban·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for banter on Thesaurus.com

1. badinage, joking, jesting, pleasantry, persiflage. 2. tease, twit; ridicule, deride, mock.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bantering

Contemporary Examples

He cast himself, he cast lovers, ex-lovers, friends, collaborators, and his films became famous for their bantering specificity.
He’s Still Older, Even in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s May-December Romances Inspire Scrutiny
Teo Bugbee
July 25, 2014
Amid a din of bantering of her personality, Paltrow pulled off a charming guest arc on Glee, winning an Emmy for her work.
Why Do We Still Hate Gwyneth Paltrow?
Kevin Fallon
May 2, 2013
Lynch avoids the packed Billy Wilder Theater to wait backstage, while Brand sits in the front row, bantering with his neighbors.
David Lynch Discusses Transcendental Meditation in Los Angeles
Sean Macaulay
April 7, 2013

Historical Examples

Now and then, he laughed in a merry way, as if he were bantering her out of something.
To be Read at Dusk
Charles Dickens
This bantering is most pointed if we assume that Rosaline was dark rather than fair.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
But when the last case had been taken out, Max dropped his bantering manner.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Gilbert's voice had changed from its bantering note to a note of resolve.
Changing Winds
St. John G. Ervine
She laughed with an affectionate air, and spoke to him in a friendly, bantering way.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for bantering

banter

verb

to speak to or tease lightly or jokingly

noun

light, teasing, or joking language or repartee

Derived Formsbanterer, noun

Word Origin

C17: of unknown origin

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

Word Origin and History for bantering

banter

v.

1670s, origin uncertain; said by Swift to be a word from London street slang. Related: Bantered; bantering. The noun is from 1680s.

banter

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}banter

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for bantering

Contemporary Examples

He cast himself, he cast lovers, ex-lovers, friends, collaborators, and his films became famous for their bantering specificity.

Amid a din of bantering of her personality, Paltrow pulled off a charming guest arc on Glee, winning an Emmy for her work.

Lynch avoids the packed Billy Wilder Theater to wait backstage, while Brand sits in the front row, bantering with his neighbors.

Historical Examples

Now and then, he laughed in a merry way, as if he were bantering her out of something.

This bantering is most pointed if we assume that Rosaline was dark rather than fair.

But when the last case had been taken out, Max dropped his bantering manner.

Gilbert's voice had changed from its bantering note to a note of resolve.

She laughed with an affectionate air, and spoke to him in a friendly, bantering way.

banter

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for bantering

banter

v.

Origin of banter