bicker
Bicker (verb) means to argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things. Example: “The siblings bickered over who got the last slice of pizza.”
How to use bicker
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo argue repeatedly over small, often trivial things, rather than one serious dispute.
Bickering implies pettiness and repetition — a single serious argument is usually called a "fight" or "row," not a bicker.
Word forms
bickered past tense, bickers plural, bickers plural, bickers singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The siblings _____ over who got the last slice of pizza.
Etymology
From Middle English bikeren, "to attack," traced back through Middle Dutch bicken, "to stab or thrust," to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to smash or break" — a much more violent origin than today's meaning of petty squabbling.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bicker
See all rhymes for bicker →Frequently asked questions
What does “bicker” mean?
The word “bicker” means to argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things. In plain terms, to argue repeatedly over small, often trivial things, rather than one serious dispute.
How do you pronounce “bicker”?
“Bicker” is pronounced BIH-kuh (/ˈbɪkɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bicker” in a sentence?
Here is “bicker” used in a sentence: “The siblings bickered over who got the last slice of pizza.”
What is another word for “bicker”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bicker” include wrangle.
What part of speech is “bicker”?
Depending on how it is used, “bicker” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bicker” come from?
The word “bicker” comes from Middle English.
How many meanings does “bicker” have?
“Bicker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things.
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