clattered; clattering; clatters
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
: to cause to clatter
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
Synonyms
Verb
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
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
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
See all Example Sentences for clatter 
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show current usage.
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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
See all Example Sentences for clatter
Dictionary Entries Near clatter
Cite this Entry
“Clatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clatter. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
clatter
2 of 2 noun1
: a rattling sound (as of hard objects striking together)
the clatter of pots and pans
3
: noisy chatter
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