climber

noun

climb·​er ˈklī-mər 

plural climbers

1

a

: a person or animal that climbs

a tree climber

a bicyclist who's an excellent climber

a mountain climber

We also teach how to handle a rope and how to belay another climber to protect them if they fall.

—Lou Whittaker

see also rock climber

b

: a climbing plant

ivy and other climbers

Owing to their size and abundance, climbing plants, especially the large woody climbers or lianes, are one of the most impressive features of the Tropical Rain forest.

—P. W. Richards

2

: social climber

Examples of climber in a Sentence

Chimpanzees are excellent climbers and spend a lot of their lives in trees.

climbers like clematis and ivy

Recent Examples on the Web

The store’s retail concept is exclusively dedicated to climbing, complete with a lounge, outdoor patio and beta board for local climbers to meet, hang (literally) and hold community events. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

The seventh season of David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction will feature interviews with Damon, Julia Roberts, Jimmy Kimmel, and rock climber Alex Honnold. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026

Upgrades include a new swingset, kid climber, pet waste station and a kindness rock garden with flowers. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Rescuers reached the injured climber the following morning, but bad weather prevented an aerial extraction. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing climber

• social climber
• stair climber

Rhymes for climber

• dimer
• eimer
• primer
• rhymer
• timer
• alzheimer
• heterodimer