1
: a very small pool of usually dirty or muddy water
2
a
: an earthy mixture (as of clay, sand, and gravel) worked while wet into a compact mass that becomes impervious to water when dry
b
: a thin mixture of soil and water for puddling plants
puddled; puddling
ˈpəd-liŋ 
ˈpə-dᵊl-iŋ
: to dabble or wade around in a puddle
1
: to make muddy or turbid : muddle
2
a
: to work (a wet mixture of earth or concrete) into a dense impervious mass
b
: to subject (iron) to the process of puddling
3
a
: to strew with puddles
b
: to compact (soil) especially by working when too wet
c
: to dip the roots of (a plant) in a thin mud before transplanting
Synonyms
Examples of puddle in a Sentence
Noun
She accidentally stepped in a puddle and got her shoes wet.
After the storm, the road was covered in deep puddles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Rain poured through the open-roofed stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Swift pushed puddles forming on her piano.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
One tussle is composed in black and white; others take place with the creatures skidding on oil slicks and water puddles, or gawking as the Chameleon, living up to her name, throws a jab that mutates into an elephant’s trunk.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Over striking dystopian cityscapes, often mirrored in the perfectly silver standing water of a permanent puddle or two, Wilkerson narrates his idiosyncratic 20th century history of Split.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024
Avoid puddles on the roadway Try to drive in the center lane(s) or, while maintaining a safe distance, drive in the tire tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024
But bite in and a sticky puddle of blueberry goodness is instantly revealed, followed closely by spices and a nutty crunch.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024
Reid Park Zoo officials shared the video of the elephant calf dunking her trunk into a mud puddle and then rolling around in the muddy water on Saturday, March 23.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Lightweight, durable, and impressively grippy, these hiking shoes are thoughtfully designed to anticipate any trek scenario — from accidentally stepping in a muddy puddle to descending down a steep trail with loose rocks, dirt, and twigs.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
When the slow-moving storm system finally moves out of Southern California on Wednesday, sanitation crews will rush in to mop up any remaining sewage puddled on the streets.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024
In the evening, the water may puddle and cause the roots to rot, Stewart added.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024
Arcel and the film lose their footing once the story puddles into melodrama, and the obstacles facing Kahlen become increasingly predictable.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
Another option is to puddle the fabric with an additional three to six inches over the floor-kiss length.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, ELLE Decor, 5 Sep. 2023
In a time of puddling water and exposed sandbars, Bill Milner, who grew up on the river, found the last resting place of five sizable ships along the Lower Neches near Beaumont on Aug. 18.
—Michael Barnes, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Here, a linen headboard, tailored bedspread, and slightly puddling window treatments create a relaxing space built around texture play.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Water puddled up at the race’s finish line, where Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walked under an umbrella into the main drag’s stands.
—Hank Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2023
Noun
Wood and his team at Double Dagger Studio use puddles as barriers.
—Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Rain poured through the open-roofed stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Swift pushed puddles forming on her piano.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
One tussle is composed in black and white; others take place with the creatures skidding on oil slicks and water puddles, or gawking as the Chameleon, living up to her name, throws a jab that mutates into an elephant’s trunk.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Over striking dystopian cityscapes, often mirrored in the perfectly silver standing water of a permanent puddle or two, Wilkerson narrates his idiosyncratic 20th century history of Split.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024
Avoid puddles on the roadway Try to drive in the center lane(s) or, while maintaining a safe distance, drive in the tire tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024
But bite in and a sticky puddle of blueberry goodness is instantly revealed, followed closely by spices and a nutty crunch.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024
Reid Park Zoo officials shared the video of the elephant calf dunking her trunk into a mud puddle and then rolling around in the muddy water on Saturday, March 23.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Lightweight, durable, and impressively grippy, these hiking shoes are thoughtfully designed to anticipate any trek scenario — from accidentally stepping in a muddy puddle to descending down a steep trail with loose rocks, dirt, and twigs.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
There was blood everywhere: footprints in the hallway, splattered on every corner of the bathroom and puddled on a rug near a door that led to the pool, where police found Ethan, according to the warrant.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
When the slow-moving storm system finally moves out of Southern California on Wednesday, sanitation crews will rush in to mop up any remaining sewage puddled on the streets.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024
In the evening, the water may puddle and cause the roots to rot, Stewart added.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024
Arcel and the film lose their footing once the story puddles into melodrama, and the obstacles facing Kahlen become increasingly predictable.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
Another option is to puddle the fabric with an additional three to six inches over the floor-kiss length.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, ELLE Decor, 5 Sep. 2023
In a time of puddling water and exposed sandbars, Bill Milner, who grew up on the river, found the last resting place of five sizable ships along the Lower Neches near Beaumont on Aug. 18.
—Michael Barnes, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Here, a linen headboard, tailored bedspread, and slightly puddling window treatments create a relaxing space built around texture play.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Water puddled up at the race’s finish line, where Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walked under an umbrella into the main drag’s stands.
—Hank Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English podel; akin to Low German pudel puddle, Old English pudd ditch
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of puddle was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing puddle
Dictionary Entries Near puddle
Cite this Entry
“Puddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puddle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on puddle
Nglish: Translation of puddle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of puddle for Arabic Speakers
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