patter

1 of 4

verb (1)

pat·​ter ˈpa-tər How to pronounce patter (audio)
pattered; pattering; patters

transitive verb

: to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner

intransitive verb

1
: to recite prayers (such as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically
2
: to talk glibly and volubly
3
: to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance
patterer noun

patter

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a specialized lingo : cant
especially : the jargon of criminals (such as thieves)
2
: the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker
3
: empty chattering talk
4
a(1)
: the rapid-fire talk of a comedian
(2)
: the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine
b
: the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usually humorous monologue introduced into such a song

patter

3 of 4

verb (2)

pattered; pattering; patters

intransitive verb

1
: to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
2
: to run with quick light-sounding steps

transitive verb

: to cause to patter

patter

4 of 4

noun (2)

: a quick succession of light sounds or pats

Examples of patter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Military trucks and stacks of orange buoys line the riverbank and helicopters patter high overhead, a mix of state and federal entities. USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024 Morning brought rain, pattering on the rooftop, soothing and monsoon-y. John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2023 Burch said the program in Mobile County is not specifically pattered after any other county, although Hatcher said the Baldwin County School System’s program was pointed to as an example of having armed and NASRO-certified officers at every school building. John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2023 But pattering your autoloader at the range is only the beginning. Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2020 Produced by the in-demand neo-traditional maverick Dave Cobb, the album revolves around springily strummed acoustic guitar, pattering percussion, and Lewis’s crisp singing — fittingly sunny music for the final days of spring and first of summer. Vulture, 9 June 2023 The rain seemed to patter at all of them. Elizabeth McCracken, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2021
Noun
After this patter repeated, another person, who claimed to work next door, offered to let the woman use their restroom instead. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2023 Candlelight flickers against the cabin wall as rain patters against the window. Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 Gradually, the brothers introduced comic patter into their act, satirizing the folk music scene and turning their sibling rivalry — which was genuine — into shtick. William Grimes, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2023 The town itself is full of colorful characters, including Reba McEntire's Heather and Michael Gross' Burt, and their collective patter is just as engaging as the excellent creature work in the film. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 While just a few hours earlier, the rain may have felt like an annoyance, the gentle patter of rain on the tent set a cozy backdrop for the event. Rachel Besser, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2024 Nick Hernandez’s savvy sound design ups the tension, with ominous cracks of thunder amid the rainfall’s omnipresent patter. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023 When adapting the play into a musical after said death, Oliver pens a patter song for Charles (Steven Martin) that is heard a few times throughout the remainder of the season. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 29 Dec. 2023 The man still held the bat, but the patter rolled on. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English patren, from paternoster

Verb (2)

frequentative of pat entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near patter

Cite this Entry

“Patter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

patter

1 of 4 verb
pat·​ter ˈpat-ər How to pronounce patter (audio)
: to talk quickly and smoothly or mechanically

patter

2 of 4 noun
1
2
: fast talk used especially to attract attention or to entertain

patter

3 of 4 verb
1
: to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
rain pattering on a roof
2
: to run with quick light-sounding steps

patter

4 of 4 noun
: a series of quick light sounds
the patter of little feet
Etymology

Verb

Middle English patren "to patter, chant prayers mechanically," from paternoster "Lord's Prayer, Our Father," derived from Latin pater noster "our father" (first words of the prayer)

Verb

from pat "to tap or strike"

More from Merriam-Webster on patter

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