puddle

1 of 2

verb

puddled; puddling ˈpəd-liŋ 

ˈpə-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to dabble or wade around in a puddle

transitive verb

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

puddler

ˈpəd-lər 

ˈpə-dᵊl-ər

noun

puddler

2 of 2

noun

pud·​dler ˈpəd(ᵊ)lə(r) 

plural -s

: one that puddles: such as

a

: one who converts pig iron into wrought iron by puddling

b

: a rabble used in puddling

c

: puddling furnace

Examples of puddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The water will either puddle on top or run off if the site is sloped. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026

While the wide-leg denim trend is making way for slimmer styles in 2026, most fashion-forward celebs and trendsetters have doubled-down on baggy denim by letting their hems puddle to the ground, as if to viscerally reject any semblance of structure. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2026

Water Puddles Water shouldn't puddle up on the lawn. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026

Thirty million gallons had puddled at the bottom. —Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing puddle

• puddle duck
• puddle jumper

Rhymes for puddle

• cuddle
• huddle
• muddle

Kids Definition

puddle

1 of 2 noun

pud·​dle ˈpəd-ᵊl 

: a very small pool (as of dirty or muddy water)

puddle

2 of 2 verb

puddled; puddling ˈpəd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to make muddy

2

: to cover with puddles

puddler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun