huddle

1 of 2

verb

hud·​dle ˈhə-dᵊl 

huddled; huddling ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈhəd-liŋ

transitive verb

1

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.

2

: to wrap oneself closely in

huddled her coat around her

3

British : to arrange carelessly or hurriedly

… things happened as in a badly directed moving picture, all huddled, all hurried …

—Donn Byrne

the solemnities had to be huddled through at express speed

—Manchester Examiner

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

American 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

American 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 of huddle

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

False imprisonment and felony charges have been filed against a Pitcairn woman after police said her 35-year-old son, who is autistic, was found in poor health, huddled naked inside a closet in her filthy home. — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026

In the dim light of a bathroom, Tonsfeldt found women huddled over a tiny newborn, who was barely making a sound. — Noelle Crombie, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026

Noun

Multiple offensive players who spoke this week credited Mensah’s calm demeanor in the huddle and on the sideline for the team’s ability to nearly complete the massive comeback. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

Carls pointed out that in the huddle during the timeouts, Campbell stayed upbeat and positive. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

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 3

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