Chirping: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used to describe the sound birds make, soft and pleasant, often during the daytime.

• The robins were chirping outside the window
• The garden was full of chirping birds

Describes a series of short, high-pitched sounds made by birds, often continuous and musical.

• The sparrows were twittering in the trees
• The morning was filled with the twitter of songbirds

Usually refers to the high-pitched sound of small birds or young chicks.

• The baby birds cheeped loudly, waiting for their mother
• You could hear the chicks cheeping in the nest

Often denotes a small, faint sound, can refer to birds or a cautious, subtle noise.

• We could hardly hear the little bird peeping
• The mouse let out a tiny peep

Chirping is generally used to describe the sound that small birds make. It can also be used to describe a similar high-pitched sound made by insects like crickets.

• The birds were chirping happily in the morning.
• We could hear the crickets chirping in the grass.

Twittering is primarily used to describe a series of light, musical sounds made by birds. It can also be used to describe people talking lightly and rapidly.

• We woke up to the sound of birds twittering outside our window.
• The children were twittering excitedly at the playground.

Cheeping is typically used to describe the soft, high-pitched sounds that young birds or chicks make.

• The baby chicks were cheeping loudly from the nest.
• You could hear the cheeping of the newly hatched birds.

Peeping is often used to describe the small, quick sounds made by young birds but can also imply a brief, high-pitched noise.

• The ducklings were peeping as they followed their mother.
• I heard some peeping sounds coming from the bushes.