rattling

1 of 2

adjective

rat·​tling ˈrat-liŋ How to pronounce rattling (audio)
1
: lively, brisk
moved at a rattling pace
2
: extraordinarily good : splendid
rattlingly adverb

rattling

2 of 2

adverb

: to an extreme degree : very
a rattling good story

Examples of rattling in a Sentence

Adjective we drove off at a rattling pace Adverb a rattling good storyteller
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.
Adjective
Here a number of the emigrants who arrived late were stowed away on a rattling floor of cane, covered with hides. Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 2 Oct. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rattling was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near rattling

Cite this Entry

“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattling. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rattling

1 of 2 adjective
rat·​tling ˈrat-liŋ How to pronounce rattling (audio)
: very brisk : lively
going at a rattling pace

rattling

2 of 2 adverb
: very entry 2 sense 1
a rattling good tale

More from Merriam-Webster on rattling

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!