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

Platoon after platoon scuffed down to the shoreline to clamber aboard gunboats, longboats, and six-oared, flat-bottomed bateaux. —/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025

That leaves an untold number of fans who may have purchased an indoor antenna, a new receiver or even clambered up onto a roof to hook up an outdoor antenna, with a bunch of wires and a blank TV screen. —Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025

Around four times each year, village captain Rosemarie Abogado gives the order to evacuate, and Sula’s 269 families clamber onto boats for the 20-minute journey to a nearby elementary school. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025

But Hitchcock got the green light to send Grace Kelly and Cary Grant clambering over the Carlton rooftop. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clambren; akin to Old English climban to climb

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clamber

• amber
• camber
• tambour

Kids Definition

clamber

verb

clam·​ber ˈklam-bər 

clambered; clambering -b(ə-)riŋ 

: to climb awkwardly