huddled; huddling
ˈhəd-liŋ 
ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ
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)
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebArelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
The final picture is of all six castmates huddling backstage in a group hug.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Nov. 2023
With no power for incubators, premature babies at Al-Shifa were individually wrapped in blankets and then placed huddled together in a desperate effort to keep them warm.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2023
At the opposite end of the floor, inside the San Diego State huddle, things weren’t so festive.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023
In a nice touch, the threat of a German bombing forces Freud and Lewis to huddle together in a nearby church.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Oct. 2023
Israeli and Palestinian officials huddled with European and U.S. envoys in the backrooms and courtyard at the American Colony Hotel.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023
On a recent Thursday, cast members huddled around a table in a rehearsal room in Midtown Manhattan.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
The union leadership was expected to huddle amongst themselves later on Saturday, and would then advise the studios on next steps.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Nov. 2023
Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
At Gallaudet, a private university in Washington, D.C. for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, players rely on the huddle — which the school actually invented in 1894 — to sign plays to each other without the opposing team figuring out their next moves.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Then, in the huddle, Cooper would say something funny.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2023
Despite the angst to which the Chargers have subjected their fans, the players said there’s no palpable anxiety in the huddle or on the sidelines when the time remaining shrinks and the significance of every play swells.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023
During the fourth quarter at home games, the arena’s lights go dark and a spotlight appears on a huddle of other dancers.
—Abigail Covington, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Every step of the game requires going into a huddle, losing them the ability to make quick changes on the field.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Among the issues, Monken said, was getting in and out of the huddle quicker, lining up correctly and players knowing their responsibilities on plays.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023
Sneakers squeak against the tile; a group of boys huddles by an ice cream vending machine; the sound of laughter and chatter bounces off the lockers.
—Maggie Prosser, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023
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Verb
In classroom 112, children who were killed were found huddled together in the corner.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
The final picture is of all six castmates huddling backstage in a group hug.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Nov. 2023
With no power for incubators, premature babies at Al-Shifa were individually wrapped in blankets and then placed huddled together in a desperate effort to keep them warm.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2023
At the opposite end of the floor, inside the San Diego State huddle, things weren’t so festive.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023
In a nice touch, the threat of a German bombing forces Freud and Lewis to huddle together in a nearby church.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Oct. 2023
Israeli and Palestinian officials huddled with European and U.S. envoys in the backrooms and courtyard at the American Colony Hotel.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023
On a recent Thursday, cast members huddled around a table in a rehearsal room in Midtown Manhattan.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
The union leadership was expected to huddle amongst themselves later on Saturday, and would then advise the studios on next steps.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Nov. 2023
Noun
For the cover of the November 13, 2023, issue, Kadir Nelson paints the rain washing over New York as a couple huddles under an umbrella.
—Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
At Gallaudet, a private university in Washington, D.C. for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, players rely on the huddle — which the school actually invented in 1894 — to sign plays to each other without the opposing team figuring out their next moves.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Then, in the huddle, Cooper would say something funny.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2023
Despite the angst to which the Chargers have subjected their fans, the players said there’s no palpable anxiety in the huddle or on the sidelines when the time remaining shrinks and the significance of every play swells.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023
During the fourth quarter at home games, the arena’s lights go dark and a spotlight appears on a huddle of other dancers.
—Abigail Covington, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Every step of the game requires going into a huddle, losing them the ability to make quick changes on the field.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Among the issues, Monken said, was getting in and out of the huddle quicker, lining up correctly and players knowing their responsibilities on plays.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023
Sneakers squeak against the tile; a group of boys huddles by an ice cream vending machine; the sound of laughter and chatter bounces off the lockers.
—Maggie Prosser, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'huddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
probably from or akin to Middle English hoderen to huddle
First Known Use
Verb
1579, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to huddle
Dictionary Entries Near huddle
Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huddle. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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Kids 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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