Meaning & use
clamber
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To climb or crawl awkwardly, using hands and feet, over rough or steep ground or obstacles.
Grammar: No object; takes a direction word: clamber over the wall.
Patterns
- clamber over something
- clamber up something
- clamber into something
The children clambered over the rocks at the beach.
He clambered up the steep bank to reach the road.
We clambered aboard the crowded boat.
nounsingularrare
A difficult, awkward climb.
Grammar: Usually singular with a: a steep clamber.
Patterns
- a clamber up something
It was a hard clamber to the summit.
After a short clamber we reached the ledge.
The clamber left us muddy.
Word forms
| third person singular | clambers |
|---|---|
| past tense | clambered |
| past participle | clambered |
| -ing form | clambering |
Common combinations
- clamber over
- We had to clamber over a fallen tree.
- clamber up
- She clambered up the rocky slope.
- clamber into
- He clambered into the truck.
- clamber out of
- They clambered out of the trench.
- clamber aboard
- Passengers clambered aboard the ferry.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scramble
- Scramble suggests fast, hurried movement, while clamber stresses effort and awkwardness.
- scrabble
- Scrabble involves scratching at the surface with fingers, which is closer to grabbing than clamber.
- climb
- Climb is neutral and can be graceful, while clamber is clumsy.
- struggle
- Struggle is general difficulty, while clamber is a particular way of climbing.
Word family
- clambering noun
- the act of climbing awkwardly
- clamberer noun
- a person who clambers
- climb verb
- to go up or over something
Commonly confused: clamber or clamor? clamber or clamp?
clamber vs clamor
Clamor means a loud noise or demand, and it sounds a bit similar to clamber but has nothing to do with climbing.
clamber vs clamp
A clamp holds things tight, and it has no connection with climbing.
Practice
The hikers ___ over the boulders to reach the stream.
Choose one answer.
Clambered means climbed with effort over rough ground. Glided, strolled and floated suggest easy movement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clamber”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.