pit-a-pat

1 8.9

In a quick, light, repeated way like a small heartbeat

adverb
/ˈpɪtəˌpæt/

: pitter-patter

Little feet raced pit-a-pat across the wooden floor.

Examples

Her heart went pit-a-pat as she waited for the results.
The rain fell pit-a-pat on the window.
Raindrops fell pit-a-pat on the roof during the night.
Her heart went pit-a-pat at the sight of him.
As I waited for the results, I could feel my heart beating pit-a-pat with excitement.
The sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor echoed pit-a-pat through the quiet room.
With every passing moment, the anticipation made my pulse race pit-a-pat.

Synonyms

pitty-pat

vspit-a-pat

1 9.9

In a light, quick way that sounds like small steps or a heartbeat

has essentially identical sense and usage

pitter-patter

vspit-a-pat

1 5.6

In a light, quick way like rain on a roof

focuses more on external sounds like rain rather than inner beats

pitty-patty

vspit-a-pat

9.9

In a light, quick, repeated way like raindrops

is the same but framed as quick and rhythmic rather than very rapid

Antonyms

silence

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

stillness

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

How Fast

rapidly

446 1.4

pit-a-pat

1 8.9

briskly

24 3.5

steadily

129 2.1

slowly

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

pit-a-pat positive

Morphology

pit-a-pat = pit + pat (semi-transparent) = pit + a + pat

This is a reduplicative, onomatopoeic compound where the components imitate a light repeated sound; knowing the literal meanings of 'pit' and 'pat' does not directly give the sense but the sound-imitative pattern makes the meaning somewhat guessable.

Etymology

Pit-a-pat is a sound word that copies a quick, light beat, like a small 'heartbeat' or the sound of 'little feet'. The parts pit and pat sound like two short beats, so saying something goes pit-a-pat means it makes a fast, light, repeated sound.