rat-a-tat

noun

ˈra-tə-ˌtat How to pronounce rat-a-tat (audio)
variants or rat-a-tat-tat
ˌra-tə-ˌta(t)-ˈtat How to pronounce rat-a-tat (audio)
: a rapid succession of knocking, tapping, or cracking sounds

Examples of rat-a-tat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Sorkin's high-IQ, rat-a-tat cocktail of noble sentiment, scalpel-sharp satire, and sports-as-a-metaphor-for-life drama was fueled by an innate love of language and a palpable fondness for the people who craft it for a living. — EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025 Gone are the rat-a-tat story counts and main focus on the anchor delivering the headlines. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rat-a-tat was in 1681

Rhymes for rat-a-tat

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rat-a-tat
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Cite this Entry

“Rat-a-tat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rat-a-tat. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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