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

• 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

The first days of October call for a Gilmore Girls rewatch — and what better way to do so than while cuddled up in a sweater that looks straight out of Stars Hollow? —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025

So cuddle up, grab your zodiac sign's favorite meal, and read on to discover the fall hobby that’s written in the stars for you. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025

Noun

To watch Lipe-Smith’s Caroline cuddle in bed watching TV on her iPad, or bopping around to JoJo Siwa, or pensively finishing a Popsicle while sitting beside her grandmother at a museum, is to have the sheer malevolence of our current administration and its adherents thrown into sharp relief. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

Cats who play with their owners frequently and get lots of cuddles are more likely to be outgoing than those that don't. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

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