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

The dining room crackles with the hopeful, earnest energy of a start-up company, ripe with possibility. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025

The live audio suffered from some crackling noise in a technical hiccup likely caused by the rain, but the singer still came out swinging. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025

Noun

Amid the constant crackle of Kyiv's air defenses, NPR's bureau heard the moped-like buzzing sound of drones for hours, and, briefly, a missile's whistling screech. —Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 17 June 2025

The risk pays off handsomely with Cherry Lime Rickey, which comes in strong with a wallop of cherry at the top that’s swooped away by a crackle of bubbles and a slight hint of lime on the finish. —Pete Cottell, Wired News, 12 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