pitter-patter

noun

pit·​ter-pat·​ter ˈpi-tər-ˌpa-tər 

ˈpi-tē-ˌpa-

: a rapid succession of light sounds or beats : patter

pitter-patter

ˌpi-tər-ˈpa-tər 

ˌpi-tē-ˈpa-

adverb or adjective

pitter-patter

ˌpi-tər-ˈpa-tər 

ˌpi-tē-ˈpa-

intransitive verb

Examples of pitter-patter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The delicate pitter-patter of a drum’s cymbal is the only sound to break through the thick brick wall of the obscure performance venue, Sun Space, and reach the wide, desolate Sunland Boulevard. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026

There is nothing quite like a teenager named Rafa sprinting across red clay to make the hearts of fans in the Spanish capital go pitter-patter and dream of future glory. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025

The sky was covered by clouds as a light, steady rain pitter-pattered outside and inside Children’s Mercy Park. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

reduplication of patter entry 4

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pitter-patter

• antimatter
• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter

Kids Definition

pitter-patter

noun

pit·​ter-pat·​ter

ˈpit-ər-ˌpat-ər, 

ˈpit-ē-ˌpat-

: a rapid series of light sounds or beats

pitter-patter

ˌpit-ər-ˈpat-, 

ˌpit-ē-ˈpat-

adverb or adjective

pitter-patter

like adverb

verb