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clickety-click

clickety-click

8.6
A fast, rhythmic clicking sound made by machines or repeated actions
  • noun
  • /ˈklɪkɪti klɪk/
translation icon : clic
  • The clickety-click of the typewriter filled the quiet room as she typed her novel.

Examples

  • He loved the clickety-click sound made by the old cash register at the store.

  • It would probably have to be a bit closer to @Home on PSN; that is, more mic chat and less clickety-click of keyboard typing.

    Blog text (31)
  • "Conrad became aware of some noise in the street, rising up like the soft clickety-click of a few dozen tap shoes.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • And just then the dry clickety-click of the typewriter—faltering at first, and then faster—floated out on the summer air.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As the assembly line moved, the workers created a steady clickety-click noise with their tools.

Synonyms

ticking
vsclickety-click
27 1.2

A light regular tapping sound made by a clock or watch

is faster and louder suggesting rapid striking by machines rather than steady beats
clickety-clack
vsclickety-click
1 7.7

A quick series of soft clicking sounds from machines or hard things hitting together

is identical in meaning but written or spoken with a different ending
click-clack
vsclickety-click
6.3

A series of quick, sharp sounds like train wheels or high heels

is faster and more rhythmic and often used for continuous machine noise

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

How Fast

clatter
36 4.0
to rattle
151 2.2
clickety-click
8.6
click
73 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology

Clickety-click comes from the simple sound word click, which imitates a 'small sharp noise', and repeating it shows many quick, regular clicks. So clickety-click means a fast, rhythmic series of clicking or clacking sounds, like knitting needles, a typewriter, or a train on the tracks.