noun
Common
TWIH-tuh
Twitter (noun) means a series of short chirping sounds made by birds. Example: “We woke to the twitter of sparrows outside the window.”
noun
1
A series of short chirping sounds made by birds.
"We woke to the twitter of sparrows outside the window."
"The twitter of swallows under the roof told us that spring had arrived."
"A cheerful twitter came from the hedge as the sun rose."
2
A state of nervous excitement.
"She was all in a twitter before the interview."
"The whole class was in a twitter about the school trip."
"He was in a twitter of excitement before opening the present."
name
1
The social media platform, officially renamed X in 2023, on which users post short messages.
"He built a following of thousands on Twitter before it became X."
verb
1
To post short messages on Twitter/X.
"She twitters constantly about politics."
"My cousin twitters about his football team after every match."
"Some people twitter all day instead of doing their work."
How to use twitter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBirds' chirping, a state of nervous excitement, or (as a name) the social platform now called X.
When to use it
The platform is officially X now, though "Twitter" and "tweet" remain in common use.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like twitter.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- twitters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We woke to the _____ of sparrows outside the window.
Etymology
From Old English twiterian, an old word imitating the chirping sound of birds; the social-media platform borrowed the word directly for its name.
Related words
Rhymes for twitter
See all rhymes for twitter →Frequently asked questions
What does “twitter” mean?
The word “twitter” means a series of short chirping sounds made by birds. In plain terms, birds' chirping, a state of nervous excitement, or (as a name) the social platform now called X.
How do you pronounce “twitter”?
“Twitter” is pronounced TWIH-tuh (/ˈtwɪtə/ in IPA).
How do you use “twitter” in a sentence?
Here is “twitter” used in a sentence: “We woke to the twitter of sparrows outside the window.”
What part of speech is “twitter”?
Depending on how it is used, “twitter” can be a noun, a name and a verb.
Where does the word “twitter” come from?
The word “twitter” comes from Old English. From Old English twiterian, an old word imitating the chirping sound of birds; the social-media platform borrowed the word directly for its name.
Is “twitter” a common word?
“Twitter” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “twitter” have?
“Twitter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a series of short chirping sounds made by birds.
What is the difference between a twitter and a tweet?
A tweet is a single short chirp, while a twitter is a run of those light chirping sounds strung together — the continuous, busy chattering of small birds. In short, a tweet is one note and a twitter is the ongoing series. Both words imitate the high, quick sounds that birds make.
What does it mean when birds twitter?
When birds twitter they produce a stream of short, high, repeated chirps, often early in the morning or when they are active and sociable. It is usually a sign of communication within a flock. The word captures the light, restless, musical quality of that constant background birdsong.
Can 'twitter' describe people talking?
Yes. Applied to people, to twitter means to talk rapidly in a light, excitable, slightly nervous way — chattering on about small things. It can also describe a flutter of nervous excitement, as in 'in a twitter'. The image comes straight from the quick, restless chirping of birds.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include twitter:
