climber

American  

[klahy-mer] / ˈklaɪ mər /

noun

1. a person or thing that climbs.

2. a climbing plant.

3. social climber.

4. a device to assist in climbing, as a climbing iron.

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climber British  

/ ˈklaɪmə /

noun

1. a person or thing that climbs

2. a plant that lacks rigidity and grows upwards by twining, scrambling, or clinging with tendrils and suckers

3. short for social climber

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Etymology

Origin of climber

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at climb, -er ¹

Explanation

A climber is a person who hikes up steep, rocky mountains and hills. If you want to be a mountain climber, you should start with small ones before tackling Mount Everest. Climbers pull themselves up the steep, craggy sides of mountains or practice on rock walls at the gym. A person who aspires to belong to a fancier social group is another kind of climber: "He's hanging out with the rich kids again — I didn't realize he was such a climber." When you're talking about plants, a climber is anything vine-like that grows up structures: "That rose is a climber. It'll cover your fence by the end of the summer."

Example Sentences

West Coast climber Jim Whittaker reached the highest point on Earth on May 1, 1963.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Whittaker, who died April 7 at the age of 97, became the most celebrated American mountain climber of his era.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Rock climber Alex Honnold, a California native, has ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper without any ropes or protective equipment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

If the climber is found guilty it could mean "a paradigm shift for mountain sports", says Austria's Der Standard newspaper.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

They took the persistent climber to the second floor, but on the way they took him lots of other places as well.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• mountaineer
• rock climber