clamber

verb clam·ber \ ˈklam-bər , ˈkla-mər \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of clamber

clambered; clambering play \ˈklam-b(ə-)riŋ, ˈklam-riŋ, ˈkla-mər-iŋ\

intransitive verb

: to climb awkwardly (as by scrambling)

clambered over the rocks

The monkeys clamber and leap through the trees with great agility.

—

clamberer

play \-bər-ər, -mər-ər\ noun

See clamber defined for English-language learners

See clamber defined for kids

Examples of clamber in a Sentence

The children clambered over the rocks.
We clambered up the steep hill.

Recent Examples of clamber from the Web

Goats have even been spotted casually clambering up near-vertical dams and walls.

— scott berson, charlotteobserver, "Daredevil goats found 50 feet above ground and clinging to highway bridge | Charlotte Observer," 5 Apr. 2018
Photographs reflect a smiling, vibrant woman ready to embrace any outdoor challenge: standing on a mountain peak, kneeling over a tide pool, clambering across a wooden bridge.

— robert anglen, azcentral, "A step-by-step look at Rebecca Zahau's bizarre death at Spreckles Mansion," 8 Mar. 2018
In the lungs, the larvae claw their way out of the organ's tiny air sacs and then clamber up to the windpipe to the pharynx to be coughed and swallowed.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Couple freaks after tabloids spread medical pics of their worm-infested bums," 1 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, in the parking lot below, buses pull up by the dozen, filled with Christian tourists led by religious tour guides, who clamber up the side of the site, find a shady spot under a tree and preach about Armageddon.

— nina burleigh, Newsweek, "The Messiah Cometh: Hobby Lobby's Museum of the Bible Descends on the Nation's Capital," 7 Apr. 2016
Ministers seeking guidance, prayed in its shadow over the years; young people visiting San Diego for a first time, have sat in his shade and gazed at the beauty of the landscape beyond, and children have clambered over its rugged base.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "Wind topples Mt. Soledad cross," 15 Mar. 2018
Its share of mortgages has clambered back to over 30%.

— The Economist, "How digitisation is paying for DBS," 8 Mar. 2018
Really, really, really, the future is clambering up my front porch.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "Self-driving Fords are coming to Miami — and I’m stoked | Miami Herald," 5 Mar. 2018
Andrews clambers down from the ladder and presses his face against one of the tank’s transparent plastic windows.

— sarah kaplan, Washington Post, "‘100 times less terrifying’: How a volcano scientist makes eruptions indoors," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clamber.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clamber

Middle English clambren; akin to Old English climban to climb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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clamber Synonyms

Synonyms

climb, scrabble, scramble, swarm;

Related Words

shimmy, shin, shinny, skin;

ascend, free-climb, get up, mount, scale, summit, surmount;

claw, sprawl, struggle;

CLAMBER Defined for English Language Learners

clamber

verb

Definition of clamber for English Language Learners

: to climb or crawl in an awkward way

CLAMBER Defined for Kids

clamber

verb clam·ber \ ˈklam-bər \

Definition of clamber for Students

clambered; clambering

: to climb in an awkward way (as by scrambling)

One of the men clambered to the top of the cabin …
—Walter Farley, The Black Stallion

Learn More about clamber

See words that rhyme with clamber Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clamber Spanish Central: Translation of clamber Nglish: Translation of clamber for Spanish speakers

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clamber

Definition of clamber

clamberer

Examples of clamber in a Sentence

Recent Examples of clamber from the Web

Origin and Etymology of clamber

clamber Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

CLAMBER Defined for English Language Learners

clamber

Definition of clamber for English Language Learners

CLAMBER Defined for Kids

clamber

Definition of clamber for Students

Learn More about clamber

Seen and Heard

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