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

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Verb

• cheep
• chirrup
• chitter
• jargon
• peep
• pip
• pipe
• tweet
• twitter

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

Essentially, the Red Sox fans were chirping the Yankees fans about giving Narvaez away, while the Yankees fans argued that Wells is actually better and that New York made the right choice. —Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025

All around this verdant peninsula on Italy’s Tuscan coast, the swifts chirped ecstatically, as if broadcasting the news: Breakfast cakes are warm! —Ashley Baker, Air Mail, 14 June 2025

Noun

Similarly to smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector will produce a quiet chirp when the battery is low. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2025

Immediately after being traded and added to the team’s group chat, the chirps started flying. Bennett, who knocked Marchand out of a couple games of the playoffs last year with a controversial hit, was the first victim. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 June 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