titter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (Upper Intermediate)Informal, often literary or descriptive.
Quick answer
What does “titter” mean?
To laugh in a short, restrained, and often high-pitched manner, typically due to nervousness, embarrassment, or mild amusement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To laugh in a short, restrained, and often high-pitched manner, typically due to nervousness, embarrassment, or mild amusement.
Often implies a laugh that is suppressed or half-hearted, used in social contexts where full laughter might be inappropriate, and can carry connotations of silliness or mockery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning; used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
In British English, it might be slightly more common in literary contexts; in American English, equally used.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English according to some corpora, but not significantly.
Grammar
How to Use “titter” in a Sentence
intransitivetransitive with 'at' as in 'titter at something'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “titter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tittered nervously during the speech.
- The audience tittered at the comedian's joke.
American English
- He tittered when he heard the silly pun.
- The kids tittered during the movie.
adverb
British English
- She laughed titteringly at the awkward situation.
American English
- He spoke titteringly, trying to hide his amusement.
adjective
British English
- There was a tittering sound from the back of the room.
- Her tittering laughter was infectious.
American English
- A tittering crowd gathered around.
- His tittering response was unexpected.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; if used, in informal descriptions of meetings.
Academic
Used in literary analysis or psychology to describe restrained laughter.
Everyday
Common in social situations to describe light, nervous laughter.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “titter”
- Using 'titter' to mean loud laughter
- Pronouncing it as /ˈtaɪtər/ instead of /ˈtɪtər/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
Yes, 'titter' can be used as a noun, as in 'a nervous titter'.
'Titter' often implies more restraint and may be associated with nervousness, while 'giggle' is more light-hearted and spontaneous.
It is pronounced as /ˈtɪtər/ in American English.
To laugh in a short, restrained, and often high-pitched manner, typically due to nervousness, embarrassment, or mild amusement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'titter' as a light laugh that 'titters' like a bird's chirp – short and high-pitched.
Conceptual Metaphor
Laughter as a suppressed sound; social restraint as a container for emotion.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'titter' typically mean?