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

This once meant waiting in long lines outside stores like Walmart and Best Buy in the early morning hours, clambering over one another to snag electronics, beauty items, and other unaffordable gifts at a steal. —Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024

Over much of the preceding 2,055 days, the site had been a hive of industry, with teams cleaning marble mosaics, retouching frescoes and clambering over the anthill of scaffolding that filled the center of the landmark. —Joseph Ataman, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024

Tottenham could clamber into the top four places in the Premier League table. —Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

But while people clambered to take refuge in the stations, disasters still unfolded there. —Gregory Wakeman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 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