natter

1 of 2

verb

nat·​ter ˈna-tər How to pronounce natter (audio)
nattered; nattering; natters

natter

2 of 2

noun

chiefly British
: idle talk or conversation : chat

Examples of natter in a Sentence

Verb If you ask about his grandchildren, he'll natter on about them for hours. She nattered about herself all evening. Noun a section of the park in which nannies like to gather for a relaxed natter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Its members have nattered on endlessly about their responsibility to safeguard the taxpayers’ money. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 Yet as her boyfriend condescendingly natters on and on and posts his pics on TikTok, Lynn looks vaguely ill at ease, not entirely with the program, and not just because of the persistent pain in her breast. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2023 The finale crystallized the show’s acidic insights about how and why people natter. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2019 All those nattering nabobs of negativism in the press were certainly guaranteed to give this speech the back of the hand, right? Jamie Dupree, AJC.com, 31 Jan. 2018 The Jerry Springer Show nattered away on a television in the corner; Gisell tried to focus on the screen. Anndee Hochman, Philly.com, 19 Jan. 2018
Noun
Ask me for something to watch — and listen to me natter on for much too long, leaping from one title to another. Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022 Francis and the driver natter away in unsubtitled Romanian, of which Julie does not understand a word. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 Jan. 2022 Instead, Trump natters about video games and mental health — neither of which Congress will do anything about, either. Eugene Robinson, The Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of natter was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near natter

Cite this Entry

“Natter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natter. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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