bantering

USAGE SUMMARY

'bantering' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a lighthearted exchange of teasing remarks. For example: "Everyone enjoyed the lighthearted bantering between the two friends during lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was bantering in Creole with one of the guys.

The Guardian - Travel

He posed for the cameras with his wife outside his home in Primrose Hill, stupendously relaxed and bantering with photographers in an unexpected Paisley shirt (the former foreign secretary has never struck me as a closet Mod), before giving an interview to the BBC explaining his decision.

The Economist

They will be bantering and bartering with the crowds of snake-liquor and ginseng salesmen who are expected to line the mile-long road from the site to their living quarters.

The Economist

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness now describe each other as friends, exchanging bantering text messages.

The Economist

Set in a women's college (based on Mount Holyoke) and then at a restaurant six years later, it features a group of friends bantering over the vague promises of their bright futures.

The Economist

Yet they were also supposed to remain in control of their faculties, bantering and displaying wit.

The Economist

Contrary to its soothing association with creased white trousers, bantering tea-time conversation and almost-holy laws, the game of cricket has witnessed lots of sordid behaviour in its time.

The Economist

He soon was making appearances as a pundit on cable news programmes, even bantering with Stephen Colbert about second acts.

The Economist

A favourite device of the playwright was to turn the lyrics of a popular song into a bantering dialogue between characters.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even though it didn't do well in theaters, is renowned by film buffs for its bantering dialogue full of pop-culture references, chiefly those to sci-fi/fantasy and comic books, and for its shedding a light on a subculture that the Hollywood mainstream would have arguably continued to ignore.

Britannica

The unusual thing is that audiences might agree: he and Blunt have the easy, bantering chemistry that's missing from most romantic comedies.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bantering" to describe lighthearted, playful conversation that is not overly serious or aggressive. It suggests a comfortable and familiar relationship between the speakers.

Common error

While "bantering" is a perfectly acceptable word, it implies a level of informality that might be inappropriate in professional or academic settings. Choose a more neutral term like "conversing" or "discussing" for such situations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bantering" is to act as a present participle or a gerund. It can function as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "They were bantering") or as a noun (e.g., "Their bantering was enjoyable"). Ludwig AI confirms that this word is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bantering" is a versatile term used to describe lighthearted, playful conversation, often involving teasing or witty remarks. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While grammatically sound and commonly found in news and media sources, it's important to consider the register and choose a more formal alternative in professional or academic settings. Related phrases like "joking", "teasing", and "kidding" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. As evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig, "bantering" is a valuable tool for conveying a sense of camaraderie and good-natured fun.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

joking

Focuses on the act of telling jokes, a narrower concept than general playful conversation.

joshing

Suggests playful teasing or joking, close in meaning to "bantering".

kidding

Indicates lighthearted fun or teasing, less formal than "bantering".

teasing

Emphasizes playful mockery, a specific type of "bantering".

chaffing

Implies teasing in a light and humorous way, akin to "bantering".

ribbing

Highlights good-natured teasing, similar to "bantering" but more direct.

sparring

Suggests a more competitive and witty exchange, a subset of "bantering".

jiving

Implies a more rhythmic and informal exchange, often associated with music.

quipping

Highlights the use of witty remarks, a specific element of "bantering".

engaging in repartee

Replaces "bantering" with a more formal and descriptive phrase.

FAQs

How to use "bantering" in a sentence?

You can use "bantering" to describe a light, playful conversation. For example, "The colleagues were "bantering" about the latest sports game."/

What can I say instead of "bantering"?

You can use alternatives like "joking", "teasing", or "kidding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "bantering" or "battering"?

"Bantering" describes playful conversation, while "battering" refers to striking forcefully or repeatedly. They have completely different meanings and should not be confused.

What's the difference between "bantering" and "quarreling"?

"Bantering" involves lighthearted teasing and playful remarks, whereas "quarreling" signifies a heated argument or disagreement. The tone and intent are vastly different.