clamber

verb

clam·​ber ˈklam-bər  ˈkla-mər 

clambered; clambering ˈklam-b(ə-)riŋ  ˈklam-riŋ 

ˈkla-mər-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to climb awkwardly or with effort especially by using both the hands and the feet

We clambered over the rocks.

They clambered up the hill.

clamberer

ˈklam-bər-ər 

ˈkla-mər-ər

noun

Synonyms

• climb
• scramble

Examples of clamber in a Sentence

The children clambered over the rocks.

We clambered up the steep hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a deciduous vine that prefers a shady exposure, sips water, and will happily clamber up the branches of a native oak or any other tree. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025

The piece is a collection of disused shoemaker boxes, once used by cobblers to keep tools, pressed against each other and stacked up, clambering toward the ceiling. —Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

One person gets swept up in the water while others clamber to the sides of the area as screams are heard in the background. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025

His colleague, a newly qualified environmental engineer, clambers up onto the backseat. —Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clambren; akin to Old English climban to climb

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clamber

• amber
• camber
• tambour

Kids Definition

clamber

verb

clam·​ber ˈklam-bər 

clambered; clambering -b(ə-)riŋ 

: to climb awkwardly