pitter-patters

Definition of pitter-pattersnext
present tense third-person singular of pitter-patter
as in throbs
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner his heart pitter-pattered with excitement as he waited for the right moment to propose

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitter-patters
Verb
  • My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.
    Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.
    Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If Sunny Hills wins both of its games and Sonora beats Esperanza twice next week, there would be a three-way tie for the league title.
    Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
  • The Lighter, Fluffier Rival Plenty of locals and visitors will tell you Cafe Beignet actually beats the icon.
    Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Every night the Dallas Stars host playoff games, the area in and around the American Airlines Center vibrates with activity, commerce and life.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Inside, standing 43 inches tall, a silver speaker from Takahiro Miyashita’s brand TheSoloist vibrates high fidelity through the showroom.
    Samantha Lee Connect April 17, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There’s a small LED indicator on the top of the device that pulses white when the sensor is ready for setup, briefly glows red when motion is detected, and briefly flashes green and blue during a reset.
    John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Inside the shop, Miwa Tanaka, who’s worked the floor for years, says the flow of foot traffic still pulses with seasonality.
    Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pitter-patters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitter-patters. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster