pattered; pattering; patters
: to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner
1
: to recite prayers (such as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically
2
: to talk glibly and volubly
3
: to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance
1
: a specialized lingo : cant
especially
: the jargon of criminals (such as thieves)
2
: the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker
3
: empty chattering talk
4
a(1)
: the rapid-fire talk of a comedian
(2)
: the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine
b
: the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usually humorous monologue introduced into such a song
pattered; pattering; patters
1
: to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
2
: to run with quick light-sounding steps
: to cause to patter
: a quick succession of light sounds or pats
Examples of patter in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the toddler pattered on for what seemed like hours
Noun (1)
their patter could be heard down the hall
the patter of highbrow criticism that one hears in fashionable art galleries
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
Timbaland’s programming is at warp level, with pattering percussion across drum heads, yielding a crowd-pleaser that Elliott carries at a galloping pace.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
Lucas was asked about Yoda’s particular patter, which often found the character doing away with typical sentence structure and essentially delivering his heady insights and mighty koans backwards.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patter
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Verb
The sky was gray, and rain pattered down through the leaves.
—Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
Timbaland’s programming is at warp level, with pattering percussion across drum heads, yielding a crowd-pleaser that Elliott carries at a galloping pace.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
That first crack of thunder, the patter of rain on rooftops and the brief but glorious cooldown.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
Lucas was asked about Yoda’s particular patter, which often found the character doing away with typical sentence structure and essentially delivering his heady insights and mighty koans backwards.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patter
Cite this Entry
“Patter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patter. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patter
1 of 4 verb
pat·ter
ˈpat-ər 
: to talk quickly and smoothly or mechanically
patter
2 of 4 noun1
2
: fast talk used especially to attract attention or to entertain
patter
3 of 4 verb1
: to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
rain pattering on a roof
2
: to run with quick light-sounding steps
patter
4 of 4 noun
: a series of quick light sounds
the patter of little feet
Etymology
Verb
Middle English patren "to patter, chant prayers mechanically," from paternoster "Lord's Prayer, Our Father," derived from Latin pater noster "our father" (first words of the prayer)
Verb
from pat "to tap or strike"
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