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

Throughout the flight, premium economy passengers have access to substantial snacks like petit fours or cup-style noodles usually reserved for business class only. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Cook pasta, tossing constantly with tongs, until sauce clings to each noodle and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 1 minute. — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026

Verb

Several generations of jam bands cite Little Feat as foundational, although almost none has come close to matching the group’s seamless stylistic range and command of percolating grooves and noodling-free improvisations. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Later on, at age 15, Claypool learned to play bass by noodling amplessly in front of the TV. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 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