huddle

1 of 2

verb

hud·​dle ˈhə-dᵊl 

huddled; huddling ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈhəd-liŋ

transitive verb

1

British : to arrange carelessly or hurriedly

the solemnities had to be huddled through at express speed

—Manchester 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

ˈhə-dᵊl-ər 

ˈhəd-lər

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)

Synonyms

Verb

• crowd
• pile

Noun

• meeting
• gathering

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

Verb

Instead of huddling around benches at bus stops with modest coverings above, the first Metro Express passengers waited at fully sheltered platforms at hangar-like BRT stations. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025

After that whiplash start, Fleck tried to regroup his team during the quarter break, huddling up not only the defense that was on the field, but his offense and special teams players along the sideline. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025

Noun

That started in huddles, with a demonstrably more communicative Jokic. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025

And yet here was McCallum spending a season in coaches meetings, team bus rides and player huddles. —Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for huddle

• cuddle
• muddle
• puddle

Kids Definition

huddle

1 of 2 verb

hud·​dle ˈhəd-ᵊl 

huddled; huddling ˈhəd-liŋ 

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 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

huddle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a close-packed group : bunch

2

a

: conference sense 1

b

: a brief gathering of football players away from the line of scrimmage to hear instructions for the next play