huddle

1 of 2

verb

hud·​dle ˈhə-dᵊl How to pronounce huddle (audio)
huddled; huddling ˈhəd-liŋ How to pronounce huddle (audio)
ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
British : to arrange carelessly or hurriedly
the solemnities had to be huddled through at express speedManchester Examiner
2
a
: to crowd together
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free …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

intransitive verb

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)
huddler
ˈhəd-lər How to pronounce huddle (audio)
ˈhə-dᵊl-ər
noun

huddle

2 of 2

noun

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of huddle was in 1579

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.

Kids Definition

huddle

1 of 2 verb
hud·​dle ˈhəd-ᵊl How to pronounce huddle (audio)
huddled; huddling ˈhəd-liŋ How to pronounce huddle (audio)
ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to crowd, push, or pile together
people huddled in a doorway
2
: to gather in a huddle in football
3
: curl up, crouch
a child huddled in its crib
huddler
ˈhəd-lər How to pronounce huddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

huddle

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on huddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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