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

Then came whispers that Netflix had put the show on its internal server, and employees couldn’t get enough of Bell and Brody’s crackling chemistry. —Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025

Is there anything more homey than listening to the symphony of a rainstorm, snuggling by a crackling fire, and holding a steaming cup of hot cocoa? —Christina Fang, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025

Noun

There are still times that Brody and Bell generate some sweetness, but the heat and crackle between them is missing — by choice a lot of the time, but far from all of it. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025

But his words go down a bit more smoothly than usual without sacrificing any of his crackle. —Jack Denton, Vulture, 6 Oct. 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