chat

chat — verb

1. to talk with someone in a relaxed, friendly way about everyday things that are n

1.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to talk with someone in a relaxed, friendly way about everyday things that are not serious or important

Example

Priya and her neighbour chatted over the garden fence for nearly an hour.

chat + with + about, intransitive

The two old friends sat in the café and chatted about their grandchildren.

chat about [topic]

Common collocations
  • chat with
  • chat about
  • chat for a while
  • chat away
Synonyms
  • talk

    more general; can be formal or informal, serious or light

  • chatter

    suggests fast, constant talk, often about small or unimportant things

  • gossip

    specifically about other people's private lives

Antonyms
  • lecture

    formal, one-way, and instructional rather than two-way and relaxed

Grammar Patterns

chat with someone

chat about something

chat to someone

Usage Note

Commonly followed by 'with' or 'to' before the person you are talking to, and 'about' before the topic.

Common Mistakes

I chatted her for an hour.
I chatted with her for an hour.
Chat is intransitive and needs 'with' or 'to' before the person.
The manager chatted the staff about the new rules.
The manager talked to the staff about the new rules.
Chat suggests a light, informal exchange; for official announcements 'talk' or 'speak' is more suitable.

2. to exchange written messages with someone in real time through an internet servi

2.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to exchange written messages with someone in real time through an internet service or a phone app, allowing immediate two-way conversation

Example

Leila and Diego chat on WhatsApp every evening after work.

chat on [platform name]

The teacher set up a group so students could chat about homework questions online.

Common collocations
  • chat with
  • chat on Line
  • chat online
  • chat room
  • group chat
Synonyms
  • message

    can include both direct/private and non-real-time messages

  • instant message

    more formal, often used as a noun or verb in business settings

Grammar Patterns

chat with someone on [platform]

chat online

Usage Note

Often used with the name of an app or platform: 'chat on Messenger,' 'chat in the group,' 'chat via text.' This sense usually refers to written, not spoken, communication.

Common Mistakes

I chatted her on Facebook.
I chatted with her on Facebook.
Even in the online sense, chat is intransitive and requires a preposition.
I chatted him a message.
I sent him a message on chat.
Chat as a verb does not take a direct object for the message content.
Phrasal verbs

chat up

phrasal verb

To talk to someone in a friendly way because you want to start a romantic relationship with them.

Tom tried to chat up the woman at the bar last night.

Did you see how Diego chatted up Maya at the party?

chat — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Chat, talk, chatter, and gossip all involve speaking with someone, but they differ in tone and content. Chat emphasises a relaxed, friendly exchange about everyday matters — it is light, unhurried, and two-way. Talk is a much broader word that covers any kind of speaking, from serious meetings to casual conversation, and can be one-way or two-way. Chatter suggests fast, continuous speech, often about unimportant things, and may imply the speaker is being a little annoying or nervous. Gossip refers specifically to discussing other people's private lives or personal affairs, often with a sense of disapproval or excitement. For example: 'We chatted about the weather while waiting for the bus' is friendly and neutral, while 'They gossiped about their neighbour's new car all evening' carries a judgemental tone.

chat ↗talk ↗chatter ↗gossip ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • have a chat
  • group chat
  • video chat
  • chat room
  • chat app

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The word 'chat' comes from Middle English 'chatten,' meaning 'to chatter,' which is itself an imitative word that echoes the quick, repetitive sounds of birds or rapid speech. It has been used in English since the 1400s to describe casual conversation. The modern online meaning emerged in the 1990s with the rise of internet chat rooms and instant messaging services.