# chat

/ˈtʃæt/ (US) · /tʃˈæt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. informal conversation

noun · CEFR A2

a friendly and informal talk with someone.

For teachers: an informal, light-hearted conversation. Often used with the verb 'have'.

- I had a quick chat with my neighbour while I was watering the plants.
- The manager had a brief chat with the team to ensure everyone was comfortable with the new schedule before the project began.

### 2. online messaging

noun · CEFR A2

an exchange of text or voice messages over the internet.

For teachers: the exchange of real-time digital messages via a computer network or messaging application.

- Send me a message in the group chat so I have your phone number.
- The technical support team uses a live chat feature to resolve customer queries in real time without the need for a phone call.

### 3. to talk informally

verb · CEFR A2

to talk to someone in a friendly, informal way.

For teachers: to engage in informal conversation. Intransitive, typically taking the preposition 'to' or 'with'.

- We sat in the café and chatted for hours about our holiday plans.
- The delegates spent the coffee break chatting with their counterparts from other regions to build professional rapport.

### 4. addressing an online audience

interjection · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · Humorous

a word used by people streaming video to talk to everyone watching them.

For teachers: a collective vocative used by live-streamers to address their entire viewing audience as a single entity.

- Is the audio working okay, chat?
- The streamer looked directly at the camera and asked, 'Chat, do you think we should try the secret level or go straight to the boss?'

Usage: Used as a direct address, often at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Teaching tip: This is very specific to internet culture, particularly on platforms like Twitch or YouTube Live; it would sound strange in a physical meeting.

## Examples

- We had a quick chat about our weekend plans.
- I stayed after the meeting for a brief chat with my manager to clarify a few small details.
- While formal negotiations were scheduled for the afternoon, the most significant progress occurred during an informal chat over coffee in the lobby.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.