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

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

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

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

Obviously modest in quantity, Saturday’s pitter-patter in Washington may also have escaped widespread notice for another reason.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2022

“You can feel the warm air of the Indian Ocean running through his novels as well as the pitter-patter of English rain,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2021

And then there was a pitter-patter of feet, and Stephanie crawled into bed and they sort of slept the rest of the night under the robe that smelled like Daddy.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• sneak
• traipse