tweet
Tweet (noun) means a short, high-pitched chirp, such as one a small bird makes. Example: “A tweet came from the hedge just before the sparrow flew off.”
How to Use Tweet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA little chirping sound, or — much more commonly today — a short post on Twitter/X.
The social-media sense is informal and now somewhat dated, since Twitter itself was rebranded X in 2023, but "tweet" is still widely understood.
Word Forms
tweeted past tense, twote past tense, twoten past tense, tweets plural, Tweets plural, tweets singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ came from the hedge just before the sparrow flew off.
Etymology
Originally just the word for a bird's chirp; the social-media sense grew directly out of the name of the Twitter platform.
Related Words
Rhymes for tweet
See all rhymes for tweet →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “tweet” mean?
The word “tweet” means a short, high-pitched chirp, such as one a small bird makes. In plain terms, a little chirping sound, or — much more commonly today — a short post on Twitter/X.
How do you pronounce “tweet”?
“Tweet” is pronounced TWEET (/ˈtwiːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tweet” in a sentence?
Here is “tweet” used in a sentence: “A tweet came from the hedge just before the sparrow flew off.”
What part of speech is “tweet”?
Depending on how it is used, “tweet” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “tweet” a common word?
“Tweet” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tweet” have?
“Tweet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, high-pitched chirp, such as one a small bird makes.
What is the difference between "tweet" and "chirp"?
Both describe the short, high-pitched sound a small bird makes, but "tweet" often suggests a lighter, single note, while "chirp" can refer to a sharper or more repeated sound. In everyday use the two words are largely interchangeable.
Is "tweet" still used now that Twitter is called X?
"Tweet" became the standard word for a post on Twitter and remains in common use even after the platform was renamed X. Some people now say "post" instead, but "tweet" persists in everyday speech.
Can "tweet" be used as a verb?
Yes, "tweet" works as a verb in both senses: for a bird to chirp, as in "the sparrows tweeted," and to publish a message on Twitter or X, as in "she tweeted the news."
What is the difference between a "tweet" and a "post"?
A "tweet" specifically means a message published on Twitter or X, while a "post" is a general term for content shared on any social media platform. Every tweet is a post, but not every post is a tweet.