rattling
Americanadjective
-
that rattles.
a rattling door.
-
remarkably good, lively, or fast.
a rattling talk; a rattling gallop.
adverb
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rattling
Explanation
A rattling is a quick, often unsteady, burst of sounds. The sound of a rattlesnake is a good example of a rattling. You know how a baby rattle sounds? That kind of quick collection of sounds can be called a rattling. A rattling is disjointed and fast. Some machines — like a car engine — make a rattling sound when they're broken. The rattling of a rattlesnake’s tail is a sign you could be in serious danger from this venomous snake. Sometimes a doctor will hear a rattling in the lungs that indicates a respiratory illness. A rattling can also be called a rattle.
Vocabulary lists containing rattling
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
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Muffled
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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.
What about Novak Djokovic, that wily old goat rattling around the bracket, 24 majors to his name?
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
Instead, Becerra recited his resume with the vigor of someone rattling off his LinkedIn page.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
“There will be more saber rattling over the Strait this week, and that could rattle markets and extend this stock market correction.”
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
The blockade is rattling markets, but stocks are not giving up a lot of gains from last week, which came as the U.S. and Iran agreed on a cease-fire set to last two weeks.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
Max had to tilt his head to the side to avoid rattling the hangers against the rod.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions 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.
