🧗 To climb awkwardly 🧗 An awkward climb

to clamber

19 5.6

To climb awkwardly using hands and feet

verb
/ˈklæmbər/

: trepar

The kids had to clamber over the fallen tree to continue their hike.
groups of schoolchildren clambered

Examples

With no time to grab his supplies, Eric clambers from the wreckage.

Fiction book (1993)
"Lucy!" By now she was clambering back up, over the stones of the path.

Fiction book (1990)
My general was forced to pull back, so here they go, starting to clamber up over the walls.
Each shot twice, and then they quickly clambered out of the vehicle as it stopped.

Fiction book (1992)
Frank clambers 100 yards up the cliff after four days at sea.

The Elephant in the Room (2025)
Without hesitation, the four terrorists hit the fence, scale it, and clamber down to the other side.

Fiction book (1992)
"Well, I'll be back for supper," Dunwin said as he clambered over the fence.

Fiction book (1993)
Kicking the door shut, he groped toward the stairway and clambered up on his hands and knees.

Fiction book (1991)
Dumont shook his head, then extended a hand and helped Brynn clamber out of the yawl.

Fiction book (1992)
In June 2008, Strasser and Runnels spent their days clambering along the flanks of the gorge.

Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

to struggle

vsto clamber

170 3.0

To move or climb with great difficulty, often using your hands

focuses on using hands and feet in a laborious, awkward climb

to scramble

vsto clamber

118 3.2

Climb quickly using your hands and feet on steep or rough ground

is slower and more effortful rather than a quick action

to flounder

vsto clamber

26 6.6

To struggle to move or think clearly when you have trouble

is only physical climbing with hands and feet, not mental effort

to shinny

vsto clamber

Informal

1 9.3

To climb something by holding on with your hands and legs

is slower and more laborious while using hands and feet

to shin

vsto clamber

7.7

To climb up or down something using your hands and shins for support

is more general and uses hands and feet rather than mainly shins

Antonyms

to descend

150 2.7

Move from a higher to a lower place

to stand still

75 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

How Difficult

to scale

15 3.1

to clamber

19 5.6

to scramble

118 3.2

to climb

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

clamber infinitive

clambered past

clambered past participle

clambering present participle

clambers third person singular

Etymology

Clamber as a verb comes from the same root as climb and means 'to climb with effort', so to clamber is to move up or over something in an awkward, hand-and-foot way.