pitter-patter

American  

[pit-er-pat-er] / ˈpɪt ərˈpæt ər /

noun

1. the sound of a rapid succession of light beats or taps, as of rain, footsteps, etc.

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verb (used without object)

pitter-patters, present (3rd person singular) pitter-pattered, past participle, past pitter-pattering present participle

1. to produce or move with this sound.

   She pitter-pattered along the hallway.

adverb

1. with such a sound.

   to run pitter-patter through the house.

pitter-patter British  

/ ˈpɪtəˌpætə /

noun

1. the sound of light rapid taps or pats, as of raindrops

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verb

1. (intr) to make such a sound

adverb

1. with such a sound

   the rain fell pitter-patter on the window

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has pitter-pattered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have pitter-pattered
  perfect
• has been pitter-pattering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are pitter-pattering
  progressive
• am pitter-pattering
  progressive 1st person singular
• pitter-patters
  singular 3rd person
• is pitter-pattering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been pitter-pattering
  perfect progressive
• pitter-pattering
  participle

Past

• had pitter-pattered
  perfect
• were pitter-pattering
  progressive plural
• was pitter-pattering
  progressive singular
• had been pitter-pattering
  perfect progressive
• pitter-pattered
  participle
• pitter-pattered
  simple

Future

• will pitter-patter
  simple
• will have pitter-pattered
  perfect
• will be pitter-pattering
  progressive
• will have been pitter-pattering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of pitter-patter

1400–50; late Middle English: a babbled prayer; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

The delicate pitter-patter of a drum’s cymbal is the only sound to break through the thick brick wall of the obscure performance venue, Sun Space, and reach the wide, desolate Sunland Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

After greeting students, chasing a football around, "attacking" shoelaces and tights, and exploring parts of the school she has never seen before, the pitter-patter of puppy paws slows down.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Miller’s playing was kinetic, especially in Owens’s vivid writing — efficiently obstinate in “Desire,” with a lovely pitter-patter of raindrops in “In time of silver rain.”

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2023

And the rapid-fire pitter-patter of those spidery digits over computer keyboards is a comical running gag throughout.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2022

Or the pitter-patter of him walking across the room.

From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks

Related Words

• sneak
• traipse