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Glite Dictionary
🧗 To climb awkwardly 🧗 An awkward climb
to clamber

to clamber

17 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 scramble
vsto clamber
125 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
23 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 struggle
vsto clamber
16 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 shin
vsto clamber
  • UK
1 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
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

Antonyms

to descend
169 2.7

Move from a higher to a lower place

to stand still
119 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

How Difficult

to scale
36 3.1
to clamber
17 5.6
to scramble
125 3.2
to climb
971 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.