blather
Americannoun
verb (used with or without object)
verb
noun
-
foolish talk; nonsense
-
a person who blathers
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has blatheredperfect 3rd person singular
-
have blatheredperfect
-
are blatheringprogressive
-
am blatheringprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been blatheringperfect progressive
-
has been blatheringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is blatheringprogressive 3rd person singular
-
blatheringparticiple
-
blatherssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had blatheredperfect
-
blatheredparticiple
-
blatheredsimple
-
had been blatheringperfect progressive
-
was blatheringprogressive singular
-
were blatheringprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of blather
From Middle English; Old Norse blathra “to chatter, blabber”
Explanation
To blather is to talk on and on without saying anything very important or wise. If you blather all afternoon, it might be a welcome distraction to your friend who's grieving the death of her cat. You can use the word blather as a noun too: you might hate riding the bus home from school because of all the silly blather around you. At a job, it might be acceptable to blather during your lunch break, but not once you get back to work. The verb came first, and it was originally Scottish, probably from the Old Norse word blaðra, "mutter or wag the tongue."
Vocabulary lists containing blather
The Hunger Games
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Speak
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Ghost
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In fact, I expected the outcome since about day seven, including China’s role in bringing about a settlement, though minus any blather on my part about a victory for the mullahs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
"All this blather about Mr Adams being a member of the army council is not something you have to decide," he told the jury.
From BBC • May 7, 2025
Since joining Cameo, he’s jacked up his rates from $75 a video to $500 for a few seconds of custom-ordered blather.
From Salon • Dec. 17, 2023
That might be worthwhile, if it were not just blather.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2023
“And I don’t want to hear you blather on about another case, Aunt Kitty—all right, Aunt Kate! But it’s time you do the listening to me for a change. No interruptions.”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
