Chat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈchat/

Meaning & Definition of Chat

Chat (verb)

  1. chatter, prattle
  2. to talk in an informal or familiar manner
  3. to take part in an online discussion in a chat room

Chat (noun)

  1. idle small talk, chatter
  2. light informal or familiar talk; especially, conversation
  3. any of several songbirds (as of the genera Emarginata or Myrmecocichla)

Chat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this

    "short chats between parents and teachers during the school's open house"

    similar: backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag (slang), chitchat, confab, confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, natter (chiefly British), palaver, patter, rap, schmooze, small talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-tête
    related: colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, symposium, debate, dialogue, exchange, give-and-take, cross talk, happy talk, yak, yammer, yap

  2. talking or a talk between two or more people

    "a fireside chat between two of America's foremost men of letters"

    similar: colloquy, conversation, converse, dialogue, discourse, discussion, exchange
    related: banter, chaff, cross fire, give-and-take, persiflage, raillery, repartee, conference, parley, babble, chatter, chin-wag (slang), chitchat, confabulation, gabfest, gossip, natter (chiefly British), palaver, prate, prattle, rap, small talk, table talk, round-robin, roundtable, symposium, debate, deliberation

Chat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to engage in casual or rambling conversation

    "the coffeehouse became the favored place to meet friends and chat for hours"

    similar: babble, blab, cackle, chaffer (British), chatter, chin (slang), converse, gab, gabble, gas, jabber, jaw, kibitz, natter, palaver, patter, prate, prattle, rap, rattle, run on, schmooze, talk, twitter, visit, blow smoke, chew the fat, shoot the breeze, talk a blue streak
    related: gossip, tattle, descant, discuss, expatiate, yak, yammer, yap

  2. to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly

    "lost in his own world, the toddler chatted happily for hours"

    similar: babble, bumble, chatter, drivel, drool, gabble, gibber, jabber, prattle, sputter
    related: blabber, blather, bleat, blither, gab, jangle, jaw, patter, prate, rattle, run on, smatter, tittle-tattle, troll, yak, chunter (British), maunder, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, stammer, stutter, screech, shout, shriek
    near: articulate, enunciate, pronounce

Related Entry: Chat (with) (verb)

Chat (with) is a different word from Chat. The synonyms below are for chat (with), not for chat.

  1. to communicate with by means of spoken words

    "chatting with the other expectant couples before the start of Lamaze class"

    similar: converse (with), speak (to or with), talk (to), engage in conversation
    related: accost, address, board, collar, greet, hail, herald, inform, notify, tell

Related Entry: Chat room (noun)

Chat room is a different word from Chat. The synonyms below are for chat room, not for chat.

  1. as in meeting, bull session

    similar: bull session, forum, meeting, roundtable, seminar, skull session, symposium, talkathon, argument, argumentation, argy-bargy (chiefly British), back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue, discussion, give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk, chat, conversation, rap, words, discourse, disquisition, bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

Related Entry: Chat rooms (noun)

Chat rooms is a different word from Chat. The synonyms below are for chat rooms, not for chat.

  1. as in meetings, bull sessions

    similar: bull sessions, forums, meetings, roundtables, seminars, skull sessions, symposia, talkathons, argumentations, arguments, argy-bargies (chiefly British), back-and-forths, colloquies, confabs, confabulations, conferences, consultations, consults, councils, counsel, debates, deliberations, dialogues, discussions, give-and-takes, palavers, parleys, talks, chats, conversations, raps, words, discourses, disquisitions, consultancies, negotiations, pourparlers

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Chat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Chat:

Slang: chin-wag, chin
Chiefly British: natter
British: chaffer
backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chitchat, confab, confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, palaver, patter, rap, schmooze, small talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-tête, colloquy, conversation, converse, dialogue, discourse, discussion, exchange, babble, blab, gabble, gas, jabber, kibitz, prate, prattle, rattle, run on, twitter, visit

Related Words for Chat

conference, parley, symposium, debate, give-and-take, cross talk, happy talk, yak, yammer, yap, banter, chaff, cross fire, persiflage, raillery, repartee, round-robin, roundtable, deliberation, tattle, descant, discuss, expatiate, blabber, blather, bleat, blither, smatter, tittle-tattle, troll

Near Antonyms of Chat

articulate, enunciate, pronounce

Word Forms of Chat

Inflections: chatted, chatting

Origin & Etymology of Chat

Middle English chatten, short for chatteren

First known use: 15th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Chat

Words & Phrases Containing Chat

chat room, chat show, chat line, chat up, chat-up line, pas de chat, a bon chat, bon rat

Frequently Asked Questions about Chat

What does "Chat" mean?

"Chat" means chatter, prattle. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: chatter, prattle. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Chat"?

Other words for "Chat" include backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag, chitchat and confab. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Chat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Chat"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Chat". Common alternatives include backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag, chitchat, confab, confabulation and gab.

How do you use "Chat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Chat" in a sentence: "short chats between parents and teachers during the school's open house"; "a fireside chat between two of America's foremost men of letters"; "the coffeehouse became the favored place to meet friends and chat for hours".

Is "Chat" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Chat" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Chat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Chat" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Chat"?

"Chat" is pronounced /ˈchat/.

What is the origin of the word "Chat"?

"Chat" comes from Middle English chatten, short for chatteren. First known use: 15th centuryi.