Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

climb

/ˈklaɪ̯m/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.22 in modern English

Syllables
climb
IPA
/ˈklaɪ̯m/
11
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To traverse a slope or contour, either upwards (ascending) or downwards (descending).

Intransitive verb

verb

(literally or figuratively): To ascend; rise; to go up.

Intransitive verb

verb

(literally or figuratively): To ascend; rise; to go up.

Intransitive verb

verb

(literally or figuratively): To ascend; rise; to go up.

Intransitive verb

verb

To mount; to move upwards on.

Transitive verb

verb

To scale; to get to the top of something.

Transitive verb

verb

To enter, mount or otherwise assume a position in or on a conveyance.

Intransitive verb

verb

To move (especially up and down something) by gripping with the hands and using the feet.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English climben, clymben, from Old English climban (“to climb”), from Proto-West Germanic *klimban, from Proto-Germanic *klimbaną (“to climb, go up by clinging”), believed to be a nasalised variant of Proto-Germanic *klibaną, *klibāną (“to stick, cleave”), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick”). Cognate with West Frisian klimme (“to climb”), Dutch klimmen (“to climb”), German klimmen (“to climb”), Old Norse klembra (“to squeeze”), Icelandic klifra (“to climb”). Related to clamber. See also clay, glue.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *gleybʰ-, climben, climban, *klimban, *klimbaną, *klibaną

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce climb?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈklaɪ̯m/.
What does climb mean?
To traverse a slope or contour, either upwards (ascending) or downwards (descending).
Where does climb come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce climb

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “climb”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈklaɪ̯m/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “climb”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “climb” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.