yammer

American  

[yam-er] / ˈyæm ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to whine or complain.

2. to make an outcry or clamor.

3. to talk loudly and persistently.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter clamorously, persistently, or in complaint.

   They yammered their complaints until she let them see the movie.

noun

1. the act or noise of yammering.

yammer British  

/ ˈjæmə /

verb

1. to utter or whine in a complaining or peevish manner

2. to make (a complaint) loudly or persistently

3. (intr) (esp of an animal) to howl or wail plaintively or distressingly; yelp or yowl

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noun

1. a yammering sound, wail, or utterance

2. nonsense; jabber

Other Word Forms

• yammerer noun
• yammeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of yammer

1275–1325; Middle English yameren (v.) < Middle Dutch jam(m ) eren, replacing Middle English yomeren, Old English gēomrian to complain, derivative of gēomor sad; akin to German Jammer lamentation

Example Sentences

The twentieth century held some surprises for us all: the flicker of the motion pictures, the yammer of the radio, the mounting rumble of foreign wars, the jangle of change.

From Literature

Residents chatted in the halls; the receptionist yammered on the phone; nurses and aides bustled about.

From Literature

Amid the debate’s dodging, weaving, yammering and spicy back-and-forth, there were a few moments when the candidates rose above the din.

From Los Angeles Times

She could yammer on with the dust mites until suppertime for all I cared.

From Literature

She keeps yammering, “Do you think I should get a rabies shot or something? Just to be safe?”

From Literature