nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈne-səl 

nestled; nestling ˈne-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

archaic : nest sense 1

2

: to settle snugly or comfortably

3

: to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner

transitive verb

1

: to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest

… the children were nestled all snug in their beds …

—Clement Moore

2

: to press closely and affectionately

nestles a kitten in her arms

nestler

ˈne-s(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of nestle

• snuggle
• cuddle
• nuzzle

Examples of nestle in a Sentence

He nestled his head against his mother's shoulder.

She carefully nestled the hamster into its cage.

The fly ball nestled into the outfielder's glove.

Recent Examples on the Web

Often nestled in lush mountains or on a peaceful lake, the bucolic and nature-filled settings of sleep-away camps will always remain ingrained in our memories. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

Bits of tender cauliflower are nestled in a creamy white bean sauce, which is topped with a kicky giardiniera. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 16 July 2026

What to do nearby Cernobbio is a charming town nestled between Mount Bisbino and Lake Como, with beautiful lakefront views, hiking trails, and a botanical garden. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

That campus is nestled in the small city in Kern County about 30 miles northwest of Bakersfield where community members cheer on their own on Friday nights. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English nestlian, from nest

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for nestle

• cresol
• decile
• pestle
• sessile
• trestle
• vessel
• wessel
• wrestle
• subsessile

Kids Definition

nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈnes-əl 

nestled; nestling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to lie close and snug : cuddle

2

: to settle as if in a nest

nestler

-(ə-)lər 

noun