crackle

1 of 2

verb

crack·​le ˈkra-kəl How to pronounce crackle (audio)
crackled; crackling ˈkra-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crackle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises
the fire crackles on the hearth
b
: to show animation : sparkle
the essays crackle with wit
2

transitive verb

: to crush or crack with snapping noises
cracklingly adverb

crackle

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the noise of repeated small cracks or reports
2
: a network of fine cracks on an otherwise smooth surface

Examples of crackle in a Sentence

Verb The logs crackled in the fire. The leaves crackled under our feet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
True to form, this sandwich crackles under tooth, down to the very last bite. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Dave Christensen woke around 2 a.m. Feb. 5 to the sound of crackling outside his bedroom window and then what sounded like an explosion. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Even low-stakes contests off the court, like video games with friends, could crackle with must-win fury. Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Ensemble Modern Zankel Hall, April 12–13 The acid, color, and crackle that characterized Weimar-era music permeates a program of storytelling music by Paul Hindemith, Erich Korngold, Arnold Schoenberg, and Kurt Weill. Vulture, 5 Jan. 2024 Snickerdoodle Blondies Imagine the tantalizing scents of cinnamon, butter and sugar that will fill your house as this beloved dessert bakes — crackling fireplace optional but highly recommended. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2024 Thick slices of extra crispy, crackling pork belly were shingled over a thick kare-kare sauce. Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024 But even as Levi’s orchestrations recede, an equally detail-rich music intrudes: bits of birdsong, echoing footfalls and, before long, dogs’ barks, human screams, crackling flames, whistling trains and the unmistakable sound of gunshots. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023 But the real excitement was in hearing the voices of the justices, live, unmediated and crackling with life. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
Noun
The final cat-and-mouse scene between the measured Schreiber and the unbreakable Ryan crackles with intensity as the duo stalk each other on the stage. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Overall, the panels are affordable and the subtle textured surface crackles, lend an air of sophistication. Michelle Duncan, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 Swank, meanwhile, crackles with energy but lets the cracks show in the nights when Sharon has only her regrets to keep her company. Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Shot around the time when protests broke out nationwide over the fate of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for not wearing her hijab properly, Cake crackles with the valiant, liberational energy of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, an attitude baked right into its bones. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024 The first stage of the nesting season involves males singing a rambling jumble of squeaks, crackles and pops while turning their shiny heads back and forth to catch the females’ eyes, as well as unique display flights that are one of the most stunning feats of any of our backyard birds. Jack Gedney, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 Listing image by Cortana Enlarge / Lightning crackles behind the dawn edge of Jupiter's atmosphere. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023 The energy between Foster (whose raspy growl is a perfect fit for an antisocial, my-way-or-the-highway veteran cop) and Reis (a former boxer with screen presence to spare) crackles throughout. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2024 There was a crackle of energy from the presence of chattering bodies in a room and the warm cacophony of string musicians tuning instruments. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crackle.' 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

frequentative of crack entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of crackle was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near crackle

Cite this Entry

“Crackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crackle

verb
crack·​le
ˈkrak-əl
crackled; crackling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises
crackle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on crackle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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