chirp

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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

chirp

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noun

: the characteristic short sharp sound especially of a small bird or insect

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of chirp in a Sentence

Verb

The birds were chirping in the trees.

We heard the crickets chirping.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Other than a slight 20-30% chance of rain along the lakefront Aug. 20, the sun will be shining and the birds chirping. —Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2025

After all, the best elements of garden life can be enjoyed in a space the size of a shoe box: a whiff of lilac, a trellis along the wall, sunbeams shining your comfy lounge chair as the birds chirp…. —Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2025

Noun

Today’s Wordle Etymology The word chirp comes from Middle English chirpen (also spelled chirpyn), which was an imitative verb formed to mimic the short, sharp sounds of small birds or insects. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Traffic caused a low hum alongside the chirp of a bird or the chitter of cicadas. —Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chirp

• burp
• usurp

Kids Definition

chirp

verb

ˈchərp

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

chirp noun