Home UK English banter

Meaning of banter in English:

banter

Pronunciation /ˈbantə/

Translate banter into Spanish

noun

mass noun

  • The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.

    ‘there was much good-natured banter’
    • ‘The verbal sparring and playful banter with her is really starting to ratchet up some interesting tension.’
    • ‘After spending time in friendly, confidence-winning banter, Dave made it clear he had more on his mind.’
    • ‘I missed my Dad a lot in the Philippines, especially our playful banter.’
    • ‘At first, their banter is friendly, until Heston realizes Moore is not on his side.’
    • ‘With McEwan in full flow, Watson sticks his head round the door and instigates some friendly banter.’
    • ‘I watched him play Federer and it was a light-hearted affair with plenty of friendly banter.’
    • ‘Their playful banter was interrupted when Louis walked into the room.’
    • ‘The friendly banter shows Hayes has succeeded in creating a dynamic corporate climate.’
    • ‘They continued their playful banter for a while and then were silent for a long time.’
    • ‘It was 20 minutes into the game when any prospect of good-natured banter disappeared.’
    • ‘So the good natured banter and dressing room style bonhomie had been shattered by a traitor in our midst.’
    • ‘Pupils often emphasised that teasing was not seen as harmful, but as a part of everyday banter, often between friends.’
    • ‘He was a very cheerful character and liked nothing more than to have a bit of banter with his friends.’
    • ‘Jokes and banter are exchanged and students are encouraged to loosen up.’
    • ‘Initially he was brought in to exchange bar room banter in Cheers.’
    • ‘As well as exchanging witty banter with Candyman Baker, David knows how to save money on clothes, eating out and pet food.’
    • ‘She watched as Ludmilla exchanged banter with the outcaste veteran.’
    • ‘Constant exchanges of intelligent banter and a pretty unsettling appearance hold the atmosphere to a sharp edge.’
    • ‘For a barrel of laughs, go and see this likeable duo as they entertain and exchange banter across a farm fence.’
    • ‘The long looks and teasing banter was a thin barrier of what really lay between them.’
    repartee, raillery, ripostes, sallies, swordplay, quips, wisecracks, crosstalk, wordplay
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verb

[no object]

  • Exchange remarks in a good-humoured teasing way.

    ‘the men bantered with the waitresses’
    • ‘Andrei teases and banters with just about every word, although his humor isn't odd and deadpan like Anikei's - it's lighter and brighter and more relaxed.’
    • ‘The family wants to thank everyone for their visits and support, as well as the nurses with whom he joked and bantered.’
    • ‘Chip's tone was bantering, but the words made their point.’
    • ‘Kitty kept her tone deliberately light and bantering, but Brandon could tell that she was serious.’
    • ‘We joked, bantered, argued, gushed over some latest literary masterpieces.’
    • ‘Between songs, Patti bantered with the audience, joked around and made us laugh (it turns out that she has quite a gift for comic timing).’
    • ‘We bantered with the audience and cracked jokes.’
    • ‘This involves bantering, oftentimes between two people who good-heartedly tease each other.’
    • ‘For awhile they bantered back and forth, trading remarks and occasionally delving deeper into a conversation.’
    • ‘Throughout the game, he banters with the arbitrator, the home plate umpire, subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) representing his club's interests and appealing for fair play.’
    • ‘He jostles with them, has a little fun, banters.’
    • ‘Lidia Verrecchia banters amiably as she ferries cappuccinos to her customers, who sit at Formica tables backed by art deco wood panels.’
    • ‘A gorgeous-looking Zeta-Jones banters with aplomb and a gallery of grotesques shine as some of the supporting characters.’
    • ‘He flirts, he likes kissing necks and shoulders, he sometimes keeps his pyjamas on, he holds hands, he banters in bed, and he makes breakfast.’
    • ‘When Hamlet banters with the gravediggers, he becomes a clown himself, even if the subject matter is mortality.’
    • ‘Holding court on a sofa in a busy London hotel foyer, Kiely banters away happily, using his gravelly laugh for punctuation.’
    • ‘In New York, Fitzgerald has the reputation of a tough, no-nonsense prosecutor who doesn't relish bantering with reporters.’
    • ‘He's been bantering with reporters about a variety of issues.’
    • ‘I could hear the President and Hillary bantering in the background.’
    • ‘Five minutes later I'd sort of forgotten about it, bantering in the staffroom and discussing someone's speech therapy needs, but there it sat.’
    joke, jest, pun, sally, quip
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Origin

Late 17th century of unknown origin.