nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈne-səl 

nestled; nestling ˈne-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

archaic : nest sense 1

2

: to settle snugly or comfortably

3

: to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner

transitive verb

1

: to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest

… the children were nestled all snug in their beds …

—Clement Moore

2

: to press closely and affectionately

nestles a kitten in her arms

nestler

ˈne-s(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of nestle

• snuggle
• cuddle
• nuzzle

Examples of nestle in a Sentence

He nestled his head against his mother's shoulder.

She carefully nestled the hamster into its cage.

The fly ball nestled into the outfielder's glove.

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether you're nestled in a cozy older seat or enjoying a sleek, modern suite, the opportunity to relax in a flat bed at 35,000 feet is simply unbeatable. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

Village Music Cafe, an intimate entertainment center nestled in Palm Beach, Florida, used to be the place where Gigi Perez would debut her most personal records. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025

The silky-rich pie is made with maple syrup, butter, heavy cream, and eggs nestled in shortcrust pastry and served with a dollop of Chantilly cream. —Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025

The nearly 3,200-square-foot property is nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac and boasts views of the surrounding canyons and greenery. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English nestlian, from nest

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for nestle

• cresol
• decile
• pestle
• sessile
• trestle
• vessel
• wessel
• wrestle
• subsessile

Kids Definition

nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈnes-əl 

nestled; nestling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to lie close and snug : cuddle

2

: to settle as if in a nest

nestler

-(ə-)lər 

noun