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

The organ is nestled between two walls in the back of his sitting room and was a gift from a friend. —Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025

Many creative platers like to cut a circular hole out of their bread loaf, which the butter candle then nestles inside. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025

The white, picturesque church is nestled amid the park’s towering trees and sits just adjacent to its bald eagle sanctuary. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025

Near the town of Sanquhar, a southwestern Scottish community nestled in verdant countryside, researchers stumbled upon a Bronze Age barrow—the first find of its kind in the area. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 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