pitter-patter

[pit-er-pat-er]

noun

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

verb (used without object)

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

/ ˈpɪtəˌpætə /

noun

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

verb

1. (intr) to make such a sound

adverb

1. with such a sound

   the rain fell pitter-patter on the window

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitter-patter¹

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

Example Sentences

Ella started to count to ten, but before she got to five, she heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet and spotted the big black noses of several rotties peeking their heads out from behind columns.

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Overhead, satin-and-glue pointed toes pitter-patter across stage in a performance of the holiday favorite.

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“We would wake to the pitter-patter of little feet in the middle of the night,” Groonwald recalls, saying that the experience taught her two lessons.

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The show’s soundtrack and the décor are usually distinctly ’80s, but the pitter-patter of David and Maddie’s bickering and the creativity of the mysteries are timeless.

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A noise jolts you awake, and you hear the pitter-patter of tiny, scurrying feet.

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Related Words

• sneak 
• traipse