Definition of banter
transitive verb
1 : to speak to or address in a witty and teasing manner She laughed and bantered him a little, remembering too late that she should have been dignified and reserved. — Kate Chopin
2 archaic : delude
3 chiefly Southern US and Midland US : challenge
intransitive verb
: to speak or act playfully or wittily The two friends bantered with each other.
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Examples of banter in a Sentence
the teacher bantered pleasantly, albeit a bit awkwardly, with the students at the school dance
Recent Examples of banter from the Web
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The most recent recording, released a week ago, involved a man who sounded like Mr. Sam Rainsy bantering with a waitress about her eating and bathing habits.
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The two bantered while whipping up eggs with salsa and avocado.
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Moana, bantering with Maui (Dwayne Johnson) like a rival sibling and borne on her journey by the spirits of the ocean and her grandmother (Rachel House), has no need of a prince.
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Many of the sharpest sequences feature the bickering and bantering between Fleabag and her sister Claire, played by the magnificently restrained Sian Clifford.
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[2] Still, bantering with strangers could brighten your morning.
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Els bantered to him about it on the way up the fairway.
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His heroes spend the film bantering about matters big and small, dancing to an eclectic soundtrack, and generally having a good time.
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BREAKING: Miss Universe exec wants Steve Harvey back as host Image: The Steve Harvey Show Donald Trump proposes Miss Universe solution In the clip Harvey is bantering with a guest in his studio audience.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'banter'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of banter
of obscure origin
First Known Use: 1653
banter
Definition of banter
: good-natured and usually witty and animated joking listening to their lively banter
Examples of banter in a Sentence
I enjoyed hearing their good-natured banter.
members of the Algonquin Round Table were known for their brilliant and witty banter
Recent Examples of banter from the Web
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But don't be fooled by his banter — there's plenty of rock-solid songwriting underneath, as his big, devoted crowd would certainly attest to.
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After all those years, what if something about our friendship and banter and chemistry was different in real life?
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The film’s racial banter was particularly concerning to the film’s eventual backers.
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For the series, the duo records themselves playing video games while engaging in witty banter.
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Before Mr. Robb stepped into the co-CEO position, Mr. Mackey faced heat for his political banter and for trash-talking a rival store anonymously on online message boards.
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This was locker-room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago.
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When the poem begins, Teebs is texting with a few different boys, and their banter is light and funny.
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Anyone who’s felt gravel crunch under their spikes will recognize Coach’s workouts — the exhausting fartleks and distance runs, the competitive banter.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'banter'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Can banter be vicious?
Banter refers to a form of jesting or to the act of exchanging joking repartee. Although the word once meant “ridicule,” and though it has a regional sense "a challenge or dare" (as in, "he performed a banter [or banner], jumping from the roof onto the snowbank"), in modern use it usually refers to a light-hearted form of wit. You would not be wrong to say that someone engages in “cruel banter,” if that is what is intended, but the word is far more often encountered in combination with modifiers such as witty, friendly, or lighthearted.
Origin and Etymology of banter
noun derivative of 1banter
First Known Use: 1688
BANTER Defined for English Language Learners
banter
Definition of banter for English Language Learners
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: talk in which people make jokes about each other in a friendly way
BANTER Defined for Kids
Definition of banter for Students
: good-natured teasing and joking
Definition of banter for Students
bantered
;bantering
: to tease or joke with in a friendly way
Learn More about banter
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See words that rhyme with banter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for banter Spanish Central: Translation of banter Nglish: Translation of banter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of banter for Arabic speakers
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