crackle

1 of 2

verb

crack·​le ˈkra-kəl 

crackled; crackling ˈkra-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises

the fire crackles on the hearth

b

: to show animation : sparkle

the essays crackle with wit

2

: craze sense intransitive 2

transitive verb

: to crush or crack with snapping noises

cracklingly adverb

crackle

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the noise of repeated small cracks or reports

b

: sparkle, effervescence

2

: a network of fine cracks on an otherwise smooth surface

Examples of crackle in a Sentence

Verb

The logs crackled in the fire.

The leaves crackled under our feet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But at least the whole street comes together in the end, with someone strumming a guitar as the pages crackle. —Adrienne Matei, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2025

Perched above the busy, cobblestoned Old Town streets, the restaurant's stone fireplace dominates the space, crackling with the same wood fires that have cooked peka for millennia. —Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025

Noun

Within the watches and fine jewelry salon, a custom crackle lacquer wall mirrors the Coromandel screens in Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 July 2025

Coolers full of beer and soda crackle as the ice melts throughout the hot summer day. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of crack entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for crackle

• cackle
• hackle
• jackal
• shackle
• tackle
• vakil
• ramshackle
• tabernacle
• zodiacal

Kids Definition

crackle

verb

crack·​le

ˈkrak-əl

crackled; crackling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises

crackle noun