clatter

1 of 2

verb

clat·​ter ˈkla-tər 

clattered; clattering; clatters

intransitive verb

1

: to make a rattling sound

the dishes clattered on the shelf

2

: to talk noisily or rapidly

3

: to move or go with a clatter

clattered down the stairs

transitive verb

: to cause to clatter

clatterer

ˈkla-tər-ər 

noun

clatteringly

ˈkla-tə-riŋ-lē 

adverb

clatter

2 of 2

noun

1

: a rattling sound (as of hard bodies striking together)

the clatter of pots and pans

2

: commotion

the midday clatter of the business district

3

: noisy chatter

clattery

ˈkla-tə-rē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• clack
• rattle

Noun

• ado
• alarums and excursions
• ballyhoo
• blather
• bluster
• bobbery
• bother
• bustle
• clutter [chiefly dialect]
• coil
• commotion
• corroboree [Australian]
• disturbance
• do [chiefly dialect]
• foofaraw
• fun
• furor
• furore
• fuss
• helter-skelter
• hoo-ha
• hoo-hah
• hoopla
• hubble-bubble
• hubbub
• hullabaloo
• hurly
• hurly-burly
• hurricane
• hurry
• hurry-scurry
• hurry-skurry
• kerfuffle [chiefly British]
• moil
• pandemonium
• pother
• row
• ruckus
• ruction
• rumpus
• shindy
• splore [Scottish]
• squall
• stew
• stir
• storm
• to-do
• tumult
• turmoil
• uproar
• welter
• whirl
• williwaw
• zoo

Examples of clatter in a Sentence

Verb

The shutters clattered against the house.

He heard dishes clattering in the kitchen.

The box dropped and dozens of marbles clattered across the floor.

The wagon clattered down the road.

Noun

the clatter of a crowded cafeteria

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Emiliano Martinez had pulled off a miraculous save earlier in the half but was now lying on the floor after clattering into the post trying to save the header. —Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

In that moment of hesitation, the ball still at his feet, Brereton Diaz clatters into him from behind, his elbow raised. —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 17 Aug. 2024

Noun

The morning rush was picking up at the Broadway Diner on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore on a recent Tuesday, with the clatter of plates, the hum of conversation, and server Lisa Bahm dashing from one table to the next. —Shannon Lilly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024

The series immerses viewers in the real grit and grind of restaurant life, from the deafening clatter of kitchen chaos to the exacting artistry of crafting the perfect sandwich. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English clatren, from Old English *clatrian; of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

clatter

1 of 2 verb

clat·​ter ˈklat-ər 

1

: to make or cause to make a rattling sound

2

: to move with a clatter

clatterer

-ər-ər 

noun

clatteringly

ˈklat-ə-riŋ-lē 

adverb

clatter

2 of 2 noun

1

: a rattling sound (as of hard objects striking together)

the clatter of pots and pans

2

: commotion sense 2

3

: noisy chatter

clattery

ˈklat-ə-rē 

adjective