clatter
Americanverb (used without object)
-
clatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
clattered,
past participle, past
-
clattering
present participle
-
to make a loud, rattling sound, as that produced by hard objects striking rapidly one against the other.
The shutters clattered in the wind.
-
to move rapidly with such a sound.
The iron-wheeled cart clattered down the street.
-
to talk fast and noisily; chatter.
They clattered on and on about their children.
verb (used with object)
-
clatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
clattered,
past participle, past
-
clattering
present participle
noun
-
a rattling noise or series of rattling noises.
The stagecoach made a terrible clatter going over the wooden bridge.
-
noisy disturbance; din; racket.
-
noisy talk; din of voices.
They had to shout over the clatter at the cocktail party.
-
idle talk; gossip.
verb
-
to make or cause to make a rattling noise, esp as a result of movement
-
(intr) to chatter
noun
-
a rattling sound or noise
-
a noisy commotion, such as one caused by loud chatter
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
clattersimple
-
clatterssimple
-
have clatteredperfect
-
has clatteredperfect
-
am clatteringprogressive
-
are clatteringprogressive
-
is clatteringprogressive
-
have been clatteringperfect progressive
-
has been clatteringperfect progressive
Past
-
clatteredsimple
-
had clatteredperfect
-
was clatteringprogressive
-
were clatteringprogressive
-
had been clatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clatter
before 1050; Middle English clateren, Old English clatr- (in clatrunge ); cognate with Dutch klateren to rattle; see -er 6
Explanation
A clatter is a clacking or rattling sound, like the clatter of horse hooves on pavement or the clatter of toys being thrown down a wooden staircase by an angry child. Clatter is also a verb, meaning "to make a continuous rattling or clanking sound." You might clatter down the school hallway in your clogs, or watch your dogs clatter across a frozen pond, their toenails clicking on the ice. Clatter comes from the Old English onomatopoeic clatrung, "a clattering," or simply "noise."
Vocabulary lists containing clatter
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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:
The sets have too many doors, the scenes have a delirious number of extras and the actors yell their lines over the distracting clatter of crackling fireplaces, beeping machines and ticking clocks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
The shuffling clatter of domino-shaped ceramic tiles drowned out the women’s laughter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
Saka's ability to take contact from defenders that clatter into the back of him is something he has mastered in the safer environment of the right wing and is invaluable centrally.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
Aromatics are where things begin: ginger, garlic, onions and their cousins; the soft clatter of mirepoix or soffritto; a bloom of spices warming in fat.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2026
The clop and clatter of the horse and wagon sounded from the street as James’s ba drew up in front of the store.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
She watches a humanoid robot totter around a demonstration kitchen until it trips on a chair and clatters to the ground.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
A conveyor clatters as the last papers are carried to the bundlers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2024
Brian Bathurst is a builder by trade but when we meet he is strapped in the back of a coastguard helicopter as it clatters through the dramatic peaks of Glen Coe.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2023
“Adaptation” was shot on 16 millimeter color film — the projector clatters away in the gallery on a derrick-like stand — using scale models and other practical effects.
From New York Times ● Mar. 3, 2022
The pipe drops from my hand and clatters on the floor.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Busy markets sold butchered meats and fast-wilting vegetables, horse carts clattered, children shouted, and men and women gossiped in coffeehouses and read from printed newspapers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
But moments later Davide Bartesaghi clattered into Mikael Ellertsson, leaving Stanciu with the task of beating France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and taking a shock three points.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
Sitting in the clubhouse, a still soaked MacIntyre gawped at the TV screen, clattered his macerated hands together in applause, and mouthed "wow" as his dream died.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2025
A tattooed skateboarder clattered over sidewalks, and a man sat on a bench in the shade, reading the Bible and taking notes near the opera house where the musical “Oklahoma” was playing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2024
The camera slipped from my fingers and clattered on the asphalt.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
Once it missed the dishwasher altogether, sending a plate clattering to the floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
It's touching and poignant, but a clattering breakbeat is a distraction from the sentiment.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
It switches between a ghostly, vaporous beat and a hectic middle passage filled with sampled and pitched-up voices and clattering percussion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Johnson was dismissed in the 55th minute after clattering into Lopez, a needless challenge that initially earned a yellow card from Erik Lambrechts before VAR sent him trudging to the dressing room.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025
The train rolled smoothly to the east, clattering over the rails, booming warnings at automobile crossings like some great bull.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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