cuddle

1 of 2

verb

cud·​dle ˈkə-dᵊl 

cuddled; cuddling 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

ˈkəd-lər 

ˈkə-dᵊl-ər

noun

cuddle

2 of 2

noun

: a close embrace

Synonyms

Verb

• nestle
• nuzzle
• snoozle [chiefly dialect]
• snuggle

Examples of cuddle in a Sentence

Verb

Let's cuddle by the fire.

kittens cuddling in a basket

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

From red carpet cuddles to music video cameos, here are some of the cutest photos of these superstar best friends. —Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024

The two appear to be inseparable, cuddling at every opportunity. —Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 July 2024

Noun

Whether that’s donating money , stopping by your local shelter and just offering cuddles and walks to animals housed there or even just tagging them in the comments so other people can learn about their work. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024

Whether that’s donating money, stopping by your local shelter and just offering cuddles and walks to animals housed there, or even just tagging them in the comments so other people can learn about their work. —Asia Moore, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1520, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cuddle

verb

cud·​dle

ˈkəd-ᵊl

cuddled; cuddling

ˈkəd-liŋ,

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection

2

: to lie close : nestle, snuggle

cuddle noun

cuddly

ˈkəd-lē

-ᵊl-ē

adjective