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.
Recent Examples on the WebJeffrey Steele, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Senior Kayla Padilla’s eyes bulged out of their socks, her mouth a gaping O. Watkins ran down the baseline in glee to nowhere, then turned back in a jump-for-joy huddle with McKenzie Forbes and Marshall.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2024
Several dozen migrants, nearly all of them Black, huddled along a hallway by the exit to the parking lot.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
Soon everyone is huddled around the couch, debating the merits of ketamine and swapping stories from the rave.
—Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024
Melissa McCarthy huddled with two-time Oscar winner Finneas while NBA leading man Russell Westbrook nonchalantly passed by.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
Roosevelt High School players huddle on the court before the start of the class 5A Colorado High School girls state championship game at the Denver Coliseum in Denver on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024
As the storied event wrapped up close to midnight Sunday, guests huddled under heat lamps, awaiting their names being publicly blasted by the traffic coordinator.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
In the dead of night, thousands of hungry Gazans are seen huddling around fires scattered across Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City, awaiting aid.
—NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
The Chiefs appeared to settle — defensive tackle Chris Jones called a huddle on the sideline to have a meeting of the entire defense — but this is rather uncharted territory for the more experienced team on this stage.
—Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
Miles took a seat in the huddle and started furiously scribbling on the whiteboard in his lap.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2024
Before the huddle broke, someone shouted AV and then someone else shouted 24 and the girls went back and forth several times, making the chant their battle cry.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024
In the huddle, USC assistant coach Chris Capko went ballistic.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024
McCoy added that all 11 Saints in the huddle came to the decision.
—USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
Chewing on his mouthguard … thumping his fist on his chest ... waving his arms to rile up the crowd ... jawing with opposing players … gesturing to fans … arguing with officials … high stepping, arms flailing, into huddles.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024
When his team broke their huddle, star wing Kawhi Leonard was out of the game, taking a seat next to the team’s assistant coaches.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024
Verb
Developers have also huddled in preliminary talks with city, landscape and urban planners to draft dramatic enhancements to the neighborhood, streetscape and public arts, all in an effort to improve the street-level appeal of the bayfront enclave.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Senior Kayla Padilla’s eyes bulged out of their socks, her mouth a gaping O. Watkins ran down the baseline in glee to nowhere, then turned back in a jump-for-joy huddle with McKenzie Forbes and Marshall.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2024
Several dozen migrants, nearly all of them Black, huddled along a hallway by the exit to the parking lot.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
Soon everyone is huddled around the couch, debating the merits of ketamine and swapping stories from the rave.
—Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024
Melissa McCarthy huddled with two-time Oscar winner Finneas while NBA leading man Russell Westbrook nonchalantly passed by.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
Roosevelt High School players huddle on the court before the start of the class 5A Colorado High School girls state championship game at the Denver Coliseum in Denver on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024
As the storied event wrapped up close to midnight Sunday, guests huddled under heat lamps, awaiting their names being publicly blasted by the traffic coordinator.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
In the dead of night, thousands of hungry Gazans are seen huddling around fires scattered across Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City, awaiting aid.
—NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Maye jogs back to the huddle after connecting on all 16 passes.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
The Chiefs appeared to settle — defensive tackle Chris Jones called a huddle on the sideline to have a meeting of the entire defense — but this is rather uncharted territory for the more experienced team on this stage.
—Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
Miles took a seat in the huddle and started furiously scribbling on the whiteboard in his lap.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2024
Before the huddle broke, someone shouted AV and then someone else shouted 24 and the girls went back and forth several times, making the chant their battle cry.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024
In the huddle, USC assistant coach Chris Capko went ballistic.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024
McCoy added that all 11 Saints in the huddle came to the decision.
—USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
Chewing on his mouthguard … thumping his fist on his chest ... waving his arms to rile up the crowd ... jawing with opposing players … gesturing to fans … arguing with officials … high stepping, arms flailing, into huddles.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024
When his team broke their huddle, star wing Kawhi Leonard was out of the game, taking a seat next to the team’s assistant coaches.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024
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 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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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