curl up

verb

curled up; curling up; curls up

intransitive verb

: to arrange oneself in or as if in a ball or curl

curl up by the fire

curl up with a good book

Synonyms of curl up

• snuggle
• snug
• nestle

Examples of curl up in a Sentence

I love to curl up in a big chair with a book.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once brimming with life, the Dodgers’ historic quest has curled up into a withered heap. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Now the left side of the slice wants to curl up, and so does the right side—but in different ways. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026

The black-and-white photograph shows Hepworth seated with her arms and legs crossed, a tea set in the foreground and a cat curled up on a couch. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Constructed in generous proportions, this beauty features deep seating for curling up with a book this fall and settling in for the night. — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for curl up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

curl up

verb

: to arrange oneself in or as if in a curl or ball

curl up with a good book