clamber

verb

clam·​ber ˈklam-bər  ˈkla-mər 

clambered; clambering ˈklam-b(ə-)riŋ  ˈklam-riŋ 

ˈkla-mər-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to climb awkwardly or with effort especially by using both the hands and the feet

We clambered over the rocks.

They clambered up the hill.

clamberer

ˈklam-bər-ər 

ˈkla-mər-ər

noun

Synonyms

• climb
• scrabble
• scramble
• swarm

Examples of clamber in a Sentence

The children clambered over the rocks.

We clambered up the steep hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, whenever a person managed to get near her, Bonnie would clamber away into the nearby brush. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Some clambered over the mountains of rubble, still smoking in some places, greedily edging one another out to get the best shots. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024

Children clamber across playground equipment or, in the summer months, cool off in the spray shower. —Christina Ray Stanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024

Cowan tosses his first fox of the day into the bed of Moyer’s brand-new Lone Star Can-Am, and the guys clamber back in. —Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clambren; akin to Old English climban to climb

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clamber

verb

clam·​ber ˈklam-bər 

clambered; clambering -b(ə-)riŋ 

: to climb awkwardly