What does prating mean?
Prating means talking at unnecessary length about subjects that are trivial, empty, or foolish. The word is generally critical rather than neutral: to call someone's conversation prating suggests that they are talking a lot without saying anything worthwhile. It is especially common in formal or literary criticism, though it is readily understood in ordinary English. A person who prates is wasting attention on minor or inconsequential matters, often while appearing eager to hold the floor. The alternative form 'prate' is now more frequently encountered, as in 'prate on about' and 'prating nonsense.' Although prating can overlap with prattling and babbling, it carries a sharper implication of foolishness or emptiness. It is a useful word for describing not merely noisy conversation, but speech whose length exceeds its substance.
verbTo talk at length about matters of little importance in a foolish or empty manner.
- To talk foolishly or at excessive length about trivial matters.
"He spent the afternoon prating about his neighbors rather than doing any useful work."
"The chairman prated about efficiency while ignoring every practical objection."
"She grew tired of her friends prating over minor social distinctions."
To prate is to make a small subject sound as though it deserves a long speech.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prating come from?
The verb comes from Middle English 'praten', meaning to chatter or talk idly, and developed into the modern form 'prate', with 'prating' as its present participle. The word is related to 'prattle', which also means to talk lightly or inconsequentially. Both forms historically carry the sense of idle or trivial speech rather than purposeful communication.
Related word forms
How prating is actually used
The term is mildly disparaging and usually suggests that the speech is tedious, trivial, or foolish. It is more literary and noticeably more critical than the neutral word 'talk'.
Easily confused with prating
Prating implies foolish or empty talk, whereas prattle more often means light, inconsequential conversation without necessarily implying foolishness.