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:
After about five minutes of chitchat, we landed on a satisfying framework.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 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
The next two hours were filled with chitchat in between sets: Nicole’s end-of-school-year frenzy, Rich’s musician thoughts about those sweet drum riffs and where we should all go to grab a bite after.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2025
The next two hours were filled with chitchat between sets: Nicole’s end-of-school-year frenzy, Rich’s musician thoughts about those sweet drum riffs and where we should all go to grab a bite after.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2025
“Is Lexie still doing theatre?” she asked, and for the rest of the meal they made superficial chitchat about the common denominators of their life: children, traffic, the weather.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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
We chitchatted a bit and I left, and on the way home I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
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
“When you’re at Target or on Amazon, you’re not interacting with anybody and chitchatting about books or getting recommendations. I think people are craving that a lot.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
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
Mr. Darling clears his throat, and everyone in the room stops chitchatting.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
