huddled; huddling
ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ 
ˈhəd-liŋ
1
British
: to arrange carelessly or hurriedly
the solemnities had to be huddled through at express speed—
Manchester Examiner
Manchester Examiner2
a
: to crowd together
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free …—Emma Lazarus
Emma Lazarus
b
: to draw (oneself) together : crouch
People were huddled around their radios.
3
: to wrap oneself closely in
huddled her coat around her
1
a
: to gather in a close-packed group
They huddled around the campfire.
b
: to curl up : crouch
Students huddled over their desks.
2
a
: to hold a consultation
huddled to discuss the proposal
b
football
: to gather away from the line of scrimmage to receive instructions (as from the quarterback) for the next down (see down entry 5 sense 3b) : to gather in a huddle (see huddle entry 2 sense 2b)
1
: a close-packed group : bunch
huddles of children
a huddle of cottages
2
a
: meeting, conference
The boss is in a huddle with the marketing director.
b
football
: a brief gathering of players away from the line of scrimmage to receive instructions (as from the quarterback) for the next down (see down entry 5 sense 3b)
Examples of huddle in a Sentence
Verb
We huddled around the campfire.
The sheep huddled together for warmth.
The students huddled over their desks.
Union representatives are huddling to discuss the proposal.
Noun
sheep standing in a huddle
The boss is in a huddle with the marketing director.
The quarterback called the offense into a huddle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 11 May 2025
In what was their first meeting since the explosive Oval Office meeting in February, Trump and Zelensky huddled in close discussion without aides in the ornate surroundings of St. Peter’s Basilica, shortly before the service began.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Listen to this article A few minutes after the Broncos’ rookie minicamp ended in a final huddle Saturday, Sean Payton made clear two tryout rookies had caught his eye.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for huddle
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Verb
Another photo showed the three huddled underneath a white duvet in a large bed.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 11 May 2025
In what was their first meeting since the explosive Oval Office meeting in February, Trump and Zelensky huddled in close discussion without aides in the ornate surroundings of St. Peter’s Basilica, shortly before the service began.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Whatever happened in those huddles woke up his team.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Listen to this article A few minutes after the Broncos’ rookie minicamp ended in a final huddle Saturday, Sean Payton made clear two tryout rookies had caught his eye.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for huddle
Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huddle. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
huddle
2 of 2 noun1
: a close-packed group : bunch
2
b
: a brief gathering of football players away from the line of scrimmage to hear instructions for the next play
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