clack

1 of 2

verb

clacked; clacking; clacks

intransitive verb

1
2
: to make an abrupt striking sound or series of sounds
3
of fowl : cackle, cluck

transitive verb

1
: to cause to make a clatter
2
: to produce with a chattering sound
specifically : blab
clacker noun

clack

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: rapid continuous talk : chatter
b
: tongue
2
archaic : an object (such as a valve) that produces clapping or rattling noises usually in regular rapid sequence
3
: a sound of clacking
the clack of a typewriter

Examples of clack in a Sentence

Verb I heard her heels clacking down the hall. He clacked his teeth together.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
My jaw stopped clacking and my body stopped vibrating. Bill Shaber, Outdoor Life, 22 Oct. 2025 Dresses swished and dress shoes clacked against the floor as couples danced for bragging rights in one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture in KC. Alexa Stone updated October 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
The sudden clack of the key hitting the plate would wake him. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025 All of those slurps and clacks and growls and squishes are amplified and enhanced in Noah Hawley’s new FX series to delicious, nightmarish results. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clack

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of clack was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clack. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

clack

verb
ˈklak
: to make or cause to make a clattering or clicking sound
clack noun
clacker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on clack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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