prattle

play

verb prat·tle \ ˈpra-tᵊl \

Definition of prattle

prattled; prattling play \ˈprat-liŋ, ˈpra-tᵊl-iŋ\

intransitive verb

1 :prate

2 :to utter or make meaningless sounds suggestive of the chatter of children :babble

transitive verb

:to say in an unaffected or childish manner

—

prattler

play \ˈprat-lər, ˈpra-tᵊl-ər\ noun

—

prattlingly

play \-liŋ-lē, -tᵊl-iŋ-\ adverb

See prattle defined for English-language learners

See prattle defined for kids

Examples of prattle in a Sentence

They prattled on into the night, discussing school, music, and friends.
spent an hour on the phone prattling on about nothing in particular

Recent Examples of prattle from the Web

The ensuing dinner scene demonstrates some of Feiffer's best writing, as Patsy's parents prattle on like the most memorable of the cartoonist's vapid authority figures.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Comedy / Film The still-relevant satire Little Murders is the best movie in town this week," 14 Aug. 2017
One of the young players prattled on excitedly about his team’s upcoming season—

— jenny vrentas, SI.com, "Sammy Watkins Is Done Talking; He's Ready to Play," 3 Aug. 2017
The book, which weighs in at more than 950 pages, is sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull — the sound of one man prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant recording angel of history.

— anna silman, The Cut, "Michiko Kakutani’s All-Time Best Burns," 27 July 2017
Browns training camp stands six weeks away, so there's no mandate to prattle on quite yet about the annual quarterback competition.

— zack meisel, cleveland.com, "A crash course for Cleveland fans shifting their focus to the Indians following the NBA Finals," 14 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prattle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prattle

Low German pratelen; akin to Middle Dutch praten to prate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1532

See Words from the same year

prattle Synonyms

Synonyms

babble, blab, cackle, chaffer [British], chatter, chin [slang], converse, gab, gabble, gas, jabber, jaw, kibitz (also kibbitz), natter, palaver, patter, prate, chat, rap, rattle, run on, schmooze (or shmooze), talk, twitter, visit

Related Words

gossip, tattle; descant, discuss, expatiate; yak (also yack), yammer, yap

Near Antonyms

articulate, enunciate, pronounce

prattle

noun

Definition of prattle

1 :trifling or empty talk

2 :a sound that is meaningless, repetitive, and suggestive of the chatter of children

Examples of prattle in a Sentence

parents often claim to understand the prattle of their infant offspring

Recent Examples of prattle from the Web

Her boys laughed at her pretensions, prattle, and lack of culture.

— Longreads, "A Portrait of the Artist as an Undocumented Immigrant," 21 June 2017
Perhaps part of what Slobodchikoff deems prairie-dog language is just useless prattle.

— ferris jabr, New York Times, "Can Prairie Dogs Talk?," 12 May 2017

First Known Use of prattle

1555

prattle Synonyms

Synonyms

abracadabra, babble, blabber, burble, double Dutch, double-talk, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, jabberwocky, mumbo jumbo, nonsense, gibberish, slobber

Related Words

blah (also blah-blah), hocus-pocus, hokeypokey, twaddle; chatter, gab, patter, prate, tattle, twitter; cackle, clack, clatter

PRATTLE Defined for English Language Learners

prattle

play

verb

Definition of prattle for English Language Learners

: to talk for very long about something that is not important or interesting

PRATTLE Defined for Kids

prattle

play

verb prat·tle \ ˈpra-tᵊl \

Definition of prattle for Students

prattled; prattling

:to talk a great deal about unimportant or uninteresting things

prattle

noun

Definition of prattle for Students

:uninteresting or unimportant talk

Amy's happy prattle became intolerable.
—Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer

Learn More about prattle

See words that rhyme with prattle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prattle Spanish Central: Translation of prattle Nglish: Translation of prattle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prattle for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up prattle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

prattle

Definition of prattle

prattler

prattlingly

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

Examples of prattle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prattle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of prattle

prattle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

prattle

Definition of prattle

Examples of prattle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prattle from the Web

First Known Use of prattle

prattle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

PRATTLE Defined for English Language Learners

prattle

Definition of prattle for English Language Learners

PRATTLE Defined for Kids

prattle

Definition of prattle for Students

prattle

Definition of prattle for Students

Learn More about prattle

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Meat Sweats': The Competitive Eater's Worst Nightmare

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066