verb
clobber
KLOB-uh
Clobber (verb) means to hit or defeat someone or something forcefully and decisively. Example: “The home team clobbered their rivals 6-0.”
verb
1
To hit or defeat someone or something forcefully and decisively.
"The home team clobbered their rivals 6-0."
"He got clobbered by a falling branch during the storm."
2
To overwrite data unintentionally, especially in computing.
"The script accidentally clobbered the saved file with an empty one."
noun
1
British informal term for clothing or belongings.
"He grabbed his clobber and headed out the door."
How to use clobber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hit or beat decisively, to accidentally overwrite data, or (British slang) one's clothes and gear.
When to use it
Informal in all senses; the "clothing" and "overwrite" meanings are especially casual/slangy.
Common pairings
clobber the competition
get clobbered
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- clobbers
- Past tense
- clobbered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The home team _____ their rivals 6-0.
Etymology
British slang first recorded around 1941, possibly imitating the sound of distant bombs during wartime.
Class of 1941
clobber joined the language around 1941.
See the full Class of 1941 →
Related words
Rhymes for clobber
See all rhymes for clobber →Frequently asked questions
What does “clobber” mean?
The word “clobber” means to hit or defeat someone or something forcefully and decisively. In plain terms, to hit or beat decisively, to accidentally overwrite data, or (British slang) one's clothes and gear.
How do you pronounce “clobber”?
“Clobber” is pronounced KLOB-uh (/ˈklɑb.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “clobber” in a sentence?
Here is “clobber” used in a sentence: “The home team clobbered their rivals 6-0.”
What part of speech is “clobber”?
Depending on how it is used, “clobber” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “clobber” come from?
The word “clobber” dates back to around 1941. British slang first recorded around 1941, possibly imitating the sound of distant bombs during wartime.
How many meanings does “clobber” have?
“Clobber” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hit or defeat someone or something forcefully and decisively.
