The pitter patter of the rain on the roof kept me from falling asleep.
Source: tatoeba (9496404)
Patter
/ˈpæt.ə/
Synonyms for "patter" (291 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (59)
Strong matches (87)
drummingdull thudemoteemotionalizeevening mistfallflailflapflickflumpflurryfluttergabgabblegabblinggaggasget top billinggibbergibberish
Show 57 more words
gibble-gabblego ongo pitapatgobbledygookgossipgout of raingushhamhammerhammy actinghaverhokehokumhot airimpersonationjabberjabberingjargonjargonizejawknocklambastelarruplinelingomaulmimemimesismimickingmimicrymimingmistmisty rainmizzlemoisturemouthmumbo jumbomummerynatteroveractingpadpalaverpalpitatepalpitationpantomimepantomimingparadiddlepastepatpatoispeltperformperformanceperformingpersonationphraseologypitapat
Related words (145)
pitchpitter patterpitter-patterplayplay the leadplayactplayactingplayingplumpplunkpommelpopportrayalpoundpoundingpourpour forthpour with rainprateprattle
Show 112 more words
precipitateprecipitationprojectionpulsatepulsationpulverizepummelrainrain tadpolesraindroprainfallrainwaterrambleramble onraprat-a-tatrat-tatrat-tat-tatrataplanrattattoorattlerattle onreel offregisterreparteerepresentationrollrub-a-dubruffrufflerun onsales pitchsales talkscatologyscotch mistscurryscuttlesheet of rainshowershower downsketchskipslangslapsticksledgehammersmall talksound a tattoospankspatterspatteringspeakspielspitsplattersplutterspoutspout offsprinklesputterstaccatostage businessstage directionsstage presencestarsteal the showstoogestreamstunttaboo languagetaking a roletalktalk awaytalk nonsensetalk ontaptat-tattattoothrashthreshthrobthrobbingthrumthudthumpthumpingticktinkletiptoetittle tattletittle-tattletom tomtom-tomtread the boardstriptroupetunktwaddletwattleunfrozen hydrometeorupstageuse languagevernacularvocabularyvulgar languagewafflewag the tonguewallopweepwetwhipyakyakkety-yak
Verb(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: spiel, act, act as foil, acting, appear.
- Sentence evidence is available for patter, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "patter".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "patter"
Keep "patter" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "patter" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "patter", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "patter" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesMore specific
8 entriescon patterfootstep patterhail patterpatter songrain pattersales patterstage pattersurface patter
Collocations
7 entriesglib patterpatter of rainpatter songrain patterrapid pattersales patterstage patter
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
The young couple climbed into the vehicle not long before the first raindrops began to patter on the windscreen.
Source: tatoeba (10982494)
I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.
Source: wiktionary
The patter of feet, and clatter of strap and swivel, seemed to swell into a bewildering din, but they were almost upon the fielato offices, where the carretera entered the town, before a rifle flashed.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "patter"?
Closest matches include spiel, act, act as foil, acting, appear.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "patter"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.