pit-a-patting

Definition of pit-a-pattingnext
present participle of pit-a-pat
as in throbbing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner her heart pit-a-patted with surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pit-a-patting
Verb
  • The light bled red at Sixty-Seventh and Pacific, music throbbing through the speakers as Olivia Borsutzki relaxed her foot from the brake.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
  • And yet, as dynasties could emerge across a number of divisions in boys hockey this postseason, none should diminish what will be yet another heart-throbbing three weeks.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This is as good as any New York team has looked in a long time, maybe since the Giants got on that roll on their way to beating the 18-0 Patriots in Glendale, Ariz.
    Mike Lupica, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
  • The surge in energy prices helped Saudi Aramco to report a 26% year-on-year jump in first-quarter profit on Sunday, beating analysts’ forecasts.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Days after the shooting stunned Shreveport, a whirlwind of police lights, camera crews and grieving relatives swarmed the neighborhood where the killings unfolded, the streets vibrating with sirens, the air shrouded in questions and disbelief.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
  • Then the controllers tried vibrating the drill to knock the rock loose and had no luck.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Drivers may also experience smoother brake operation because the system avoids the harsh pedal pulsing commonly associated with older anti-lock braking systems.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
  • The Red side hits you first – deep crimson walls pulsing under neon light, electric and visceral.
    Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pit-a-patting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pit-a-patting. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster