chuckle

verb

chuck·​le ˈchə-kᵊl 

chuckled; chuckling; chuckles

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 sense 5a) mirth

… the clear bright water chuckled over gravel …

—B. A. Williams

transitive verb

: to utter with a chuckle

Templeton grinned. "I'll tend to this," he chuckled. He took Wilbur's tail in his mouth and bit it. … The pain revived Wilbur.

—E. B. White

chuckle noun

chucklesome

ˈchə-kᵊl-səm 

adjective

chucklingly

ˈchə-kᵊl-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of chuckle

• laugh
• giggle

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 on the Web

Flying cows, fiddle-playing cats, and chuckling retrievers inhabit the space between ornate columns. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026

Abdul-Mateen says, his chuckle filling a small room in one of the streamer’s Hollywood offices. —Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

The raid marked the end of the era in which Jackson’s eccentricity—his morphing appearance, his obsession with animals, and above all his love for children—seemed like something to chuckle about. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Bass chuckled when asked about his elementary school hoops days. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably frequentative of chuck entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chuckle

• buckle
• chicle
• knuckle
• muckle
• suckle
• tical
• honeysuckle

Kids Definition

chuckle

verb

chuck·​le ˈchək-əl 

chuckled; chuckling

ˈchək-(ə-)liŋ

: to laugh in a quiet way

chuckle noun