What does prate mean?
Prate is a somewhat old-fashioned verb meaning to talk at length without adding anything useful or intelligible. It usually carries a mildly disparaging tone: the speaker may be rambling, wasting time, or making little sense rather than communicating a meaningful idea. The word often appears with “about” or “on,” and a person who talks in this way may be called a prater. Although the term can sound severe, it is often comic or gently teasing rather than abusive. The older noun denotes foolish or empty talk and is now rare or dated. The verb survives more readily in formal prose, where it offers a vivid, mildly literary alternative to “chatter,” “babble,” or “prattle.” Its value lies in concentrating three ideas within one word: talking, lengthiness, and lack of substance.
To talk at length without saying anything useful or intelligible; chatter or babble.
"The officials continued to prate about procedures while the emergency continued."
Usually disparaging and now somewhat literary or old-fashioned.
Dated: foolish, empty, or inconsequential talk.
"Their conversation was dismissed as tedious prate."
Rare and dated in modern English.
The plural is rarely needed because the noun is dated and normally appears in singular or mass-like usage.
"His empty prates about distant lands amused no one."
To prate is to supply plenty of words while withholding the one thing a listener wants: substance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prate come from?
The word entered Middle English during the late medieval period, borrowed from Middle Dutch praten, meaning “to chatter” or “to talk.” English prattle and prater are related derivatives that continue the word's associations with talk, especially talk that is prolonged or lacking significance. The modern English sense is chiefly disparaging, emphasizing speech that has little useful content.
Related word forms
How prate is actually used
Somewhat literary, old-fashioned, and generally disparaging. It is uncommon in everyday conversation but remains recognizable in formal or humorous prose.
Easily confused with prate
To prate is to talk at length without substance, whereas to praise is to express approval or admiration.