giggle

gig·gle | \ ˈgi-gəl

How to pronounce giggle (audio)

\

giggled; giggling\ -g(ə-)liŋ

How to pronounce giggling (audio)

\

Definition of giggle

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to laugh with repeated short catches of the breath

transitive verb

: to utter with a giggle

giggle

Definition of giggle (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of giggling

2 chiefly British : a source of amusement

Other Words from giggle Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about giggle

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of giggle in a Sentence

Verb She giggled like a little kid. We were all joking and giggling nervously as we waited for the ceremony to begin. Noun poking fun at the royal family is nothing new, but this movie comedy has a few giggles you haven't heard before couldn't help but giggle at his remark

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Peebles, too, was elated with the prize, with the AP noting that the eminent comosologist, 84, couldn’t stop giggling during a phone interview on the morning of the announcement. — Smithsonian, "Three Win Physics Nobel for Showing Our Place in the Cosmos," 9 Oct. 2019 The solemnity was broken when a family friend walked into the home carrying a giggling 2-year-old girl. — Washington Post, "Verbal autopsies used in push to better track global deaths," 6 Oct. 2019 The solemnity was broken when a family friend walked into the home carrying a giggling 2-year-old girl. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Verbal autopsies used in push to better track global deaths," 5 Oct. 2019 Republicans giggled at the intraparty sniping at a rising star in Democratic politics. — Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, "Why Impeachment Isn’t a Big Deal on the Trail," 11 Nov. 2019 The child giggled and squirmed out of their arms during the long hearing. — BostonGlobe.com, "Macharla, 45, was sentenced to up to four years in prison for the death of Ridhima, who prosecutors said Macharla shook so violently while she was caring for the child in March 2015 that the baby’s brain began to bleed.," 12 Oct. 2019 Lucas, Emma and Brock, who listened recently as their mom recounted the saga of 2012, giggled uncontrollably at the fried rice story. — Heidi Stevens, chicagotribune.com, "Column: After going ‘through hell and back,’ 11-year-old boy is saved by his little sister’s stem cells," 10 Oct. 2019 And the parents laugh and the kids kind of giggle unknowingly. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "The Right Wing’s Cultural Civil War Is a Drag," 9 Sep. 2019 These super fun Christmas puns will keep your family, friends, and co-workers giggling until New Year's Eve. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "60 Best Christmas Puns That Yule Be Laughing at All Season Long," 27 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Baker enjoys using common or recycled items in his art, often for serious, thought-provoking pieces — and in this case for a giggle. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "Lighten up with Polasek Museum’s humorous sculptures," 25 Oct. 2019 On the other hand (no pun intended) cannabis’ side effects are short term and include an increase in appetite, dry mouth and the potential for giggles. — Mary Schumacher, chicagotribune.com, "Using cannabis to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome," 20 Sep. 2019 Right now, a handful of tech geeks have bought 5G-capable phones for the giggles of using them in the two square blocks where 5G is operational. — Washington Post, "Era of IPhone ‘Super Cycles’ Is Gone, Even for 5G," 6 Sep. 2019 Everyone chooses something different to remember Gloria Vanderbilt by: her personal history, her art, her giggle. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Andy Cohen, Joyce Carol Oates, and Many More Honor Gloria Vanderbilt," 17 June 2019 Naʔ Srimjam tried desperately to get her laughter under control, gasping through her giggles that her laughter was taboo. — Alice Rudge, Quartz, "Why we laugh when we know we shouldn’t," 28 Aug. 2019 Bonus entry post one of these photos in your story @kodiakcakes #kodiakcakes Graham crackers are one of those snacks that instantly take me back to water balloons, tie dye, and the giggle fits that come with sneaking out of your cabin. — Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, "Pull This Pork, Dip That Chip, and 5 More Things to See & Do This Week," 29 July 2019 There are many scenes that buzz gently with the giggles of children in the background. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "Jeffrey Epstein Should Cancel the Culture’s Humbert Humberts," 9 July 2019 Thunberg said, a giggle breaking her normally serious demeanor. — Washington Post, "Sailing to America: Teen to bring her climate activism to US," 30 July 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about giggle

Dictionary Entries near giggle

Statistics for giggle

Last Updated

7 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Giggle.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giggly?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=g&file=giggle05. Accessed 14 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

impugn

to assail by words or arguments

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.