# chatting

/ˈtʃætɪŋ/ (US) · /tʃˈætɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chatting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. messaging online

verb · CEFR A2

exchanging text messages in real time on a phone or computer.

For teachers: participating in a synchronous exchange of digital messages via an application or platform.

- I was chatting with my friends on a group app until late last night.
- The customer support representative is currently chatting with several clients simultaneously to resolve their technical issues efficiently.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of social media and instant messaging apps.

### 3. the act of talk

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the activity of having a friendly conversation.

For teachers: the act or instance of engaging in informal talk; functions as a gerund or a verbal noun.

- The teacher asked the students to stop their chatting and focus on the lesson.
- Constant chatting in the back of the lecture hall proved to be a significant distraction for both the professor and the other students.

Usage: Often follows verbs like 'stop' or 'start'.

## Examples

- We are chatting about our weekend plans.
- I spent the afternoon chatting with my neighbor over the garden fence while she watered her plants.
- While the delegates were officially there to negotiate the treaty, much of the real progress happened while they were chatting informally during the coffee breaks.

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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.