chat

1 of 2

verb

ˈchat 

chatted; chatting

intransitive verb

1

: chatter, prattle

2

a

: to talk in an informal or familiar manner

b

: to take part in an online discussion in a chat room

transitive verb

chiefly British : to talk to

especially : to talk lightly, glibly, or flirtatiously with

—often used with up

chat

2 of 2

noun

1

: idle small talk : chatter

2

: light informal or familiar talk

especially : conversation

3

[imitative] : any of several songbirds (as of the genera Emarginata or Myrmecocichla)

4

: online discussion in a chat room

also : an instance of such discussion

participate in computer chats

Synonyms

Verb

• babble
• blab
• cackle
• chaffer [British]
• chatter
• chin [slang]
• converse
• gab
• gabble
• gas
• jabber
• jaw
• kibitz
• kibbitz
• natter
• palaver
• patter
• prate
• prattle
• rap
• rattle
• run on
• schmooze
• shmooze
• talk
• twitter
• visit

Noun

• backchat
• cackle
• causerie
• chatter
• chin music
• chin-wag [slang]
• chitchat
• confab
• confabulation
• gab
• gabfest
• gossip
• jangle
• jaw
• natter [chiefly British]
• palaver
• patter
• rap
• schmooze
• small talk
• table talk
• talk
• tête-à-tête

Examples of chat in a Sentence

Verb

We chatted about our plans for the summer.

called him up to chat

She stayed up all night chatting with her friends online.

Noun

We enjoyed a chat over coffee.

software used for e-mail and chat

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Patino chatted with every person, making sure their order was perfect. —Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025

During a recent episode of The Oprah Podcast, the media mogul chatted with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the amount of time teenagers spend online. —Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Noun

That chat is under review by the Pentagon Inspector General for the handling of sensitive information. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

But the other chat group included people with no clear reason for receiving the sensitive information. —Quil Lawrence, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatten, short for chatteren

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chat

• chat line
• chat room
• chat show
• chat up
• chat-up line
• pas de chat

Rhymes for chat

• at
• bat
• batt
• brat
• cat
• fat
• flat
• gat
• gnat
• hat
• kat
• mat

Kids Definition

chat

1 of 2 verb

ˈchat 

chatted; chatting

1

: to talk in a friendly manner about things that are not serious

2

: to take part in an online discussion in a chat room

chat

2 of 2 noun

1

: a light friendly conversation

2

: a talk held over the Internet by people using a chat room

3

: any of several songbirds with a chattering call