small talk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Imagine if you’re a nominee, getting shuttled to and fro, shaking hands and making small talk.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

A quick "You okay?" followed by "Yeah, I'm fine" is surface-level small talk.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

It’s an offering that doesn’t require perfect timing, small talk, or even a shared schedule.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2026

She half-expected to suffer through another week of lackluster group excursions and awkward small talk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

The three of them launched into small talk about the crowd and Christmas and the weather and school—and their words felt like tiny droplets of rain, like the drizzle that says, Watch out.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller