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 of cuddle

Verb

• 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

Neill was a performer whose bone-deep decency shone through his work and was amplified in later years by a social-media presence that featured him reminiscing about his career or hanging out with animals on his farm, or maybe cuddling a duck. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Brittany often shares cute family updates to her followers and recently shared an adorable picture of her two daughters, Golden and Sterling Skye, 5, cuddled up together in bed on her Instagram Stories. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Noun

And the whole family can enjoy the new Bleat & Greet experience with the ranch’s baby goats, which includes cuddle and play time with the baby animals plus info about how the goats are cared for each day. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 14 July 2026

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. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

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

Rhymes for cuddle

• huddle
• muddle
• puddle

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