chuckle

play

verb chuck·le \ ˈchə-kᵊl \

Definition of chuckle

chuckled; chuckling

intransitive verb

1 :to laugh inwardly or quietly

He chuckled as he read the comic strip.

2 :to make a continuous gentle sound resembling suppressed (see suppress 5a) mirth

the clear bright water chuckled over gravel
—B. A. Williams

—

chuckle

noun

—

chucklesome

play \-səm\ adjective

—

chucklingly

play \-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See chuckle defined for English-language learners

See chuckle defined for kids

Examples of chuckle in a Sentence

She chuckled at the memory of what he had said.
everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes

Recent Examples of chuckle from the Web

So really, Stan Lee introduced the whole concept of characterization [chuckles] to comic books, and conflict, and maybe even a touch of gray in some of the characters.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Jack Kirby, the Unknown King," 28 Aug. 2017
Reporters in the Capitol chuckled at the legislative innocence of that prediction.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "How times have changed – Reagan vs Trump on major tax reform," 21 Aug. 2017
That doesn't mean there aren't some thoroughly enjoyable exchanges between the pair, including a few Nathan Drake-style one-liners that made me chuckle out loud.

— kyle orland, Ars Technica, "Uncharted: Lost Legacy," 17 Aug. 2017
Not everyone chuckles about being shoved into a niche, though.

— lynsey g., Glamour, "Does Mainstream Porn Have an Age Problem?," 16 Aug. 2017
Robba’s 31-year-old daughter, Courtney, chuckles the next morning at breakfast, unfazed.

— sean hotchkiss, CNT, "Charting Indonesia's Eastern Islands on a Luxury Yacht," 24 July 2017
Somewhere, The King must be chuckling at these kids.

— peter schmuck, baltimoresun.com, "Schmuck: Heat, humidity at Senior Players provide conditions that Arnold Palmer considered no sweat in '02," 13 July 2017
Dabo Swinney chuckled a bit Thursday at the ACC Kickoff at Charlotte’s Westin hotel when asked how recruiting has changed since he was named Clemson’s interim coach back in 2008.

— rick bonnell, charlotteobserver, "Clemson’s Dabo Swinney explains how, and why, these are not your father’s Tigers," 13 July 2017
Korkmaz had a huge smile on his face as others chuckled over whatever was said.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Furkan Korkmaz gladly joins Sixers - even it it's only summer league," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chuckle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chuckle

probably frequentative of ¹chuck

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1770

See Words from the same year

chuckle Synonyms

Synonyms

break up, cackle, chortle, laugh, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter

Related Words

grin, smile

Near Antonyms

bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep; howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl; bleat, pule, whimper, whine; sniffle, snivel; groan, moan, sigh

CHUCKLE Defined for English Language Learners

chuckle

play

verb

Definition of chuckle for English Language Learners

: to laugh in a quiet way

CHUCKLE Defined for Kids

chuckle

play

verb chuck·le \ ˈchə-kəl \

Definition of chuckle for Students

chuckled; chuckling

:to laugh in a quiet way

chuckle

noun

Definition of chuckle for Students

:a low quiet laugh

Learn More about chuckle

See words that rhyme with chuckle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chuckle Spanish Central: Translation of chuckle Nglish: Translation of chuckle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chuckle for Arabic speakers

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chuckle

Definition of chuckle

chuckle

chucklesome

chucklingly

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Examples of chuckle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of chuckle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of chuckle

chuckle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

CHUCKLE Defined for English Language Learners

chuckle

Definition of chuckle for English Language Learners

CHUCKLE Defined for Kids

chuckle

Definition of chuckle for Students

chuckle

Definition of chuckle for Students

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