curl up

verb

curled up; curling up; curls up

intransitive verb

: to arrange oneself in or as if in a ball or curl
curl up by the fire
curl up with a good book

Examples of curl up in a Sentence

I love to curl up in a big chair with a book.
Recent Examples on the Web In video captured by NBC News’ crew at the Emirates hospital in Rafah, babies lie side by side, some crying out, while others lie sleeping on their backs or curled up in the fetal position. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023 Craving that ability to curl up or stretch out on a comfy piece of furniture but don’t have much room? Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023 The 1932 portrait depicts the artist’s blonde mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter, dressed in a hat and green-checkered dress and sitting curled up in a chair. Kelly Crow, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2023 If the sheets of parchment paper curl up, dollop a small amount of meringue in each corner to hold the paper in place. Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023 Our only frustration with this rug was that the corners curled up slightly and the edges rolled up slightly. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023 Its generous dimensions offer ample coverage, whether you’re curled up with a good book or sharing it with a loved one. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2023 Then again, nothing beats a lazy day spent curled up next to your in-room fireplace after a soak in the tub. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2023 In the mood to curl up on the couch for a Legally Blonde marathon? Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curl up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curl up was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near curl up

Cite this Entry

“Curl up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curl%20up. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

curl up

verb
: to arrange oneself in or as if in a curl or ball
curl up with a good book

More from Merriam-Webster on curl up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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