noodle

1 of 3

noun (1)

noo·​dle ˈnü-dᵊl 

1

: a stupid person : simpleton

2

: head, noggin

noodle

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a food paste made usually with egg and shaped typically in ribbon form

2

: a buoyant, flexible cylinder of polyethylene foam used as an aid in swimming or staying afloat in water

Grasp the pool noodle with hands about shoulder-width apart, then extend arms straight out in front of you on the water's surface …

—Good Housekeeping

noodle

3 of 3

verb

noodled; noodling

ˈnüd-liŋ, 

ˈnü-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to improvise on an instrument in an informal or desultory manner

Synonyms of noodle

Noun (1)

• idiot
• moron
• stupid
• dummy
• loser
• dip
• mutt
• dumbbell

Examples of noodle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

come in out of the rain, you silly noodle

since he's almost seven feet tall, it shouldn't be too difficult to spot his noodle in this crowd

Verb

He was just noodling around on the guitar.

It's a thought I've been noodling around with for some time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The restaurant also had to discard food like roast beef, noodles, egg whites, rice and sausage after it was found to be improperly stored in the walk-in cooler. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026

The peanut street noodles sautéed with red cabbage, snap peas, carrots, cilantro, chilies, and sesame seeds land lighter but still manage to feel substantial. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Verb

My personal favorite is the ‘Better Every Day’ journal with 365 thoughtful prompts to noodle on each day. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 18 June 2026

Past menu highlights have included ramen, roasted oysters, noodles galore, skewers, bao buns, wontons, smash burgers, karaage, quesabirria tacos, and more. — Richard Guzman, Oc Register, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps alteration of noddle

Noun (2)

German Nudel

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1937, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing noodle

• cellophane noodle
• chicken noodle soup
• udon noodle

Rhymes for noodle

• boodle
• doodle
• feudal
• poodle

Kids Definition

noodle

noun

noo·​dle

ˈnüd-ᵊl

: a thin strip of dough made from flour, water, and usually eggs and cooked by boiling