chirp

verb

ˈchərp 

chirped; chirping; chirps

1

intransitive : to make a chirp or a sound resembling a chirp

chirping birds

… he had listened many times to the sound of grasshoppers chirping in the grass, and he had always liked the noise that they made.

—Roald Dahl

… Jesse Levine was luxuriating at home in Boca Raton last month when his cellphone chirped.

—L. Jon Wertheim

2

transitive : to utter (something) with a cheerful liveliness

She sang three songs … and chirped "Goodbye everybody! See you tomorrow!"

—Garrison Keillor

3

intransitive informal : to make sharply critical, complaining, or taunting remarks

Emotions boiled over for Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Josh Norman after the two chirped at each other consistently for two weeks.

—Ben Volin

After the fight, which McLeod more or less won, the two chirped at each other in the penalty box …

—USA Today

… some of his teammates chirped about the officiating …

—Jack McCallum

Synonyms of chirp

• peep
• tweet
• chirrup
• pipe
• chitter
• cheep
• pip
• chatter
• trill
• sing
• jargon

Examples of chirp in a Sentence

The birds were chirping in the trees.

We heard the crickets chirping.

Recent Examples on the Web

About 40 minutes away, real birds melodiously chirped and trilled outside its sister hotel, Es Figueral Nou, an 18th-century finca and former fig plantation set among vast agricultural fields. —Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026

Atkinson was chirping at Blair, which Black said was common (for Atkinson to be chirping at anyone), and there was a lot of contact. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 May 2026

I'mPhaedra Trethan, using this handy guide to identify the birds chirping in my yard each morning. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 7 May 2026

And the birds are chirping their hearts out. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chirp

• burp
• usurp

Kids Definition

chirp

verb

ˈchərp

: to make a short sharp sound like a small bird or cricket

chirp noun