cuddle

verb cud·dle \ ˈkə-dᵊl \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Examples: cuddle in a Sentence

Definition of cuddle

cuddled; cuddling play \ˈkəd-liŋ, ˈkə-dᵊl-iŋ\

transitive verb

: to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection

He cuddled the puppy.

intransitive verb

: to lie close or snug : nestle, snuggle

… dewy glens where couples cuddle on blankets …
—Bob Sipchen

—

cuddler

play \ˈkəd-lər, ˈkə-dᵊl-ər\ noun

See cuddle defined for English-language learners

See cuddle defined for kids

Examples of cuddle in a Sentence

Let's cuddle by the fire.
kittens cuddling in a basket

Recent Examples of cuddle from the Web

Caught in the background were little sister Jenner cuddling with Simmons on a couch.

— isabel greenberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kendall Jenner and Ben Simmons Were Spotted Cozying Up Together on the 4th of July," 5 July 2018
The baby is the object of a fair amount of territorial disputes this week, with June longing to nurse and cuddle her child and Serena fiercely declaring that June shouldn’t go anywhere near her.

— constance grady, Vox, "The Handmaid’s Tale introduces a burst of dark camp in “Postpartum”," 4 July 2018
Teddy bears give a child what a Kansas City Police Department social worker can't: a friend to cuddle and hold when scared.

— cortlynn stark, kansascity, "With 100 teddy bears and toothbrushes, KCPD social workers hope to comfort kids," 25 June 2018
The Instagram came after reports the pair had been cuddling up in St. Barts on New Year's Eve.

— hannah yasharoff, USA TODAY, "What's going on with Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin?," 18 June 2018
But a few days ago, after a photo surfaced of Chopra cuddling with Jonas on a boat, fans have been eagerly awaiting confirmation that the two are dating.

— meagan fredette, refinery29.com, "Are Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra Dating? This Heart Emoji Clue Says Maybe," 3 June 2018
What's the big argument that stopped Jelena's glorious, cuddling-in-the-streets romance in its tracks?

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "Are Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez on a Break Because of Birthday Party Drama?," 16 Mar. 2018
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas sparked dating rumors over Memorial Day weekend after a photo surfaced on Instagram of the pair cuddled up on a boat.

— refinery29.com, "Please Look At This Photo Of Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas," 30 May 2018
Encourage your daughter to do anything that helps her get in a better place, whether that is reading a book, watching TV, listening to music or cuddling with a family pet.

— kelly wallace, CNN, "A 'confidence code' for girls: 5 ways to build up our daughters," 21 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of cuddle

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1520

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

cuddle Synonyms

cuddle

noun

Definition of cuddle

: a close embrace

Recent Examples of cuddle from the Web

Inside the Rotunda, 450 guests gathered for cocktails and cuddles with adoptable SPCA puppies.

— catherine bigelow, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Francisco SPCA raises the woof (and $1.8 million) at 150th anniversary gala," 23 Apr. 2018
The need for such touch is primal, said Jean Franzblau, founder of the Cuddle Sanctuary, a four-year-old storefront business in Los Angeles that offers one-on-one sessions and has hosted over 300 cuddle events.

— author: tara bahrampour, Anchorage Daily News, "Some people are paying for cuddles. And it’s not what you might think.," 20 Apr. 2018
June 2018 The two make their relationship re-Instagram official with an adorable cuddle sesh pic.

— kelsey stiegman, Seventeen, "A Definitive Timeline of Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik's Relationship," 6 June 2018
You & Bae Decide Interacting with People Is Too Much Work Fast forward to an hours-long cuddle sesh with your puppy and laptops.

— grace gavilanes, PEOPLE.com, "15 Relationship Milestones That Will Inevitably Happen If You're As Cool As Chrissy & John," 23 Jan. 2018
So get out your phones, order some puppies, or head on over to the shelter to get your cuddle on!

— audrey gorden, RedEye Chicago, "Meet the puppies up for adoption during Uber's puppy delivery," 11 May 2017
Not only is the corridor as cozy as a cuddle, the pink master bedroom visible at its end seems extra cheery.

— kathryn o’shea-evans, WSJ, "The Big Decorating Mistake: Forgetting Your Hallways," 24 May 2018
According the the police department's official Twitter announcement about the winner, the pawfficer's official duties will include: community policing, supervising the K9 unit, and of course, providing cuddles.

— aleanna siacon, Detroit Free Press, "Troy police reveal name of station cat — and it's purrfect," 1 May 2018
In one sense, yes: As in any relationship, repeat cuddle sessions allow participants to learn each other’s rhythms.

— tara bahrampour, Washington Post, "I went to get hugged by a professional cuddler. Here’s how it felt.," 24 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of cuddle

see ¹cuddle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1825

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CUDDLE Defined for English Language Learners

cuddle

verb

Definition of cuddle for English Language Learners

: to hold (someone or something) in your arms in order to show affection
: to lie or sit close together

CUDDLE Defined for Kids

cuddle

verb cud·dle \ ˈkə-dᵊl \

Definition of cuddle for Students

cuddled; cuddling

1 : to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection

2 : to lie close : nestle, snuggle

Learn More about cuddle

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cuddle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

cuddle

Definition of cuddle

cuddler

Examples of cuddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cuddle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cuddle

cuddle Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

cuddle

Definition of cuddle

Recent Examples of cuddle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cuddle

CUDDLE Defined for English Language Learners

cuddle

Definition of cuddle for English Language Learners

CUDDLE Defined for Kids

cuddle

Definition of cuddle for Students

Learn More about cuddle

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Words We're Watching: 'Laze'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Trending: Ocasio-Cortez Sparks 'Socialism' Lookups

Ghost Word