chat

1 of 2

verb

ˈchat 

chatted; chatting

intransitive verb

1

: chatter, prattle

2

a

: to talk in an informal or familiar manner

b

: to take part in an online discussion in a chat room

transitive verb

chiefly British : to talk to

especially : to talk lightly, glibly, or flirtatiously with

—often used with up

chat

2 of 2

noun

1

: idle small talk : chatter

2

: light informal or familiar talk

especially : conversation

3

[imitative] : any of several songbirds (as of the genera Emarginata or Myrmecocichla)

4

: online discussion in a chat room

also : an instance of such discussion

participate in computer chats

Synonyms of chat

Verb

• talk
• converse
• chatter

Noun

• talk
• chatter
• gossip
• chitchat

Examples of chat in a Sentence

Verb

We chatted about our plans for the summer.

called him up to chat

She stayed up all night chatting with her friends online.

Noun

We enjoyed a chat over coffee.

software used for e-mail and chat

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Those that could speak chatted quietly, and others stared into the distance. —Sophie Neiman, NPR, 20 June 2026

While chatting with Craig Melvin during a June 19 appearance on the Today show, the TV icon paused her interview to smack the anchor after a bold request. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 20 June 2026

Noun

Not the group-chat cyberbullying! —Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 June 2026

Happily, Bonnie, for her part, doesn’t fall prey to an e-stalker, though she is subjected to some sneering group-chat abuse, which teaches her an important lesson about bullying, peer pressure, and the instability of online-only friendships. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatten, short for chatteren

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chat

• chat line
• chat room
• chat show
• chat up
• chat-up line
• pas de chat

Rhymes for chat

• at
• bat
• batt
• brat
• cat
• fat
• flat
• gat
• gnat
• hat
• kat
• mat

Kids Definition

chat

1 of 2 verb

ˈchat 

chatted; chatting

1

: to talk in a friendly manner about things that are not serious

2

: to take part in an online discussion in a chat room

chat

2 of 2 noun

1

: a light friendly conversation

2

: a talk held over the Internet by people using a chat room

3

: any of several songbirds with a chattering call