1
: a very small pool of usually dirty or muddy water
2
a
: an earthy mixture (as of clay, sand, and gravel) worked while wet into a compact mass that becomes impervious to water when dry
b
: a thin mixture of soil and water for puddling plants
puddled; puddling
ˈpəd-liŋ 
ˈpə-dᵊl-iŋ
: to dabble or wade around in a puddle
1
: to make muddy or turbid : muddle
2
a
: to work (a wet mixture of earth or concrete) into a dense impervious mass
b
: to subject (iron) to the process of puddling
3
a
: to strew with puddles
b
: to compact (soil) especially by working when too wet
c
: to dip the roots of (a plant) in a thin mud before transplanting
Synonyms
Examples of puddle in a Sentence
Noun
She accidentally stepped in a puddle and got her shoes wet.
After the storm, the road was covered in deep puddles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2023
The numbers in the preseason mean so little, the sample sizes smaller than the puddles of sweat generated, that teams are generally just trying to make it to the starting line healthy.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2023
Maybe it’s meant to feel like a fever dream, those hectic images of two model-handsome young men rolling around together in puddles of alcohol.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2023
Rain boots are a must-have for any season, and the best ones combine fashion and functionality, shielding your feet from puddles, water, rain, and slush—that is, sans any bulkiness (which is key when traveling and preserving precious suitcase space!).
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2023
Advertisement As construction trucks and bulldozers rumbled nearby, members of the media picked their way carefully around puddles that had sprung up from rain the night before to gaze at the new earthworks.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
As his coffin was driven to the church, local residents knelt in the puddles that pooled along the roadside.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023
Charlotte Pottle: There was just a big puddle of something.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2023
Once, a guest approached Treadwell to ask for a dry robe after the masseuse had slipped on a puddle and was sitting on the floor, Treadwell said.
—Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2023
Katy Spratte Joyce, ELLE Decor, 5 Sep. 2023
In a time of puddling water and exposed sandbars, Bill Milner, who grew up on the river, found the last resting place of five sizable ships along the Lower Neches near Beaumont on Aug. 18.
—Michael Barnes, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Here, a linen headboard, tailored bedspread, and slightly puddling window treatments create a relaxing space built around texture play.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Water puddled up at the race’s finish line, where Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walked under an umbrella into the main drag’s stands.
—Hank Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2023
But, true to fashion’s tendency to co-opt and refine even slovenly looks, stylish men have lately come to appreciate how strategically lengthy pants can puddle nonchalantly atop designer sneakers.
—Ashley Ogawa Clarke, WSJ, 6 Jan. 2023
For a loose, casual effect, let garland puddle on the floor by up to a foot.
—Anna Logan, Country Living, 3 Dec. 2022
These aren't to be confused with beachy cover-ups, though there's nothing wrong with layering some very open fishnet over a bikini, long-sleeve shirt, or puddle pants.
—Shanna Shipin, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2022
That suits diving ducks fine, but puddle ducks have trouble feeding in their accustomed locales.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Aug. 2022
See More
Noun
Paltrow wowed style-watchers with her courtroom outfits and seemed to melt one of the plaintiff’s lawyers into a fangirl puddle.
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2023
The numbers in the preseason mean so little, the sample sizes smaller than the puddles of sweat generated, that teams are generally just trying to make it to the starting line healthy.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2023
Maybe it’s meant to feel like a fever dream, those hectic images of two model-handsome young men rolling around together in puddles of alcohol.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2023
Rain boots are a must-have for any season, and the best ones combine fashion and functionality, shielding your feet from puddles, water, rain, and slush—that is, sans any bulkiness (which is key when traveling and preserving precious suitcase space!).
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2023
Advertisement As construction trucks and bulldozers rumbled nearby, members of the media picked their way carefully around puddles that had sprung up from rain the night before to gaze at the new earthworks.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
As his coffin was driven to the church, local residents knelt in the puddles that pooled along the roadside.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023
Charlotte Pottle: There was just a big puddle of something.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2023
Once, a guest approached Treadwell to ask for a dry robe after the masseuse had slipped on a puddle and was sitting on the floor, Treadwell said.
—Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2023
Verb
Another option is to puddle the fabric with an additional three to six inches over the floor-kiss length.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, ELLE Decor, 5 Sep. 2023
In a time of puddling water and exposed sandbars, Bill Milner, who grew up on the river, found the last resting place of five sizable ships along the Lower Neches near Beaumont on Aug. 18.
—Michael Barnes, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Here, a linen headboard, tailored bedspread, and slightly puddling window treatments create a relaxing space built around texture play.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Water puddled up at the race’s finish line, where Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walked under an umbrella into the main drag’s stands.
—Hank Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2023
But, true to fashion’s tendency to co-opt and refine even slovenly looks, stylish men have lately come to appreciate how strategically lengthy pants can puddle nonchalantly atop designer sneakers.
—Ashley Ogawa Clarke, WSJ, 6 Jan. 2023
For a loose, casual effect, let garland puddle on the floor by up to a foot.
—Anna Logan, Country Living, 3 Dec. 2022
These aren't to be confused with beachy cover-ups, though there's nothing wrong with layering some very open fishnet over a bikini, long-sleeve shirt, or puddle pants.
—Shanna Shipin, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2022
That suits diving ducks fine, but puddle ducks have trouble feeding in their accustomed locales.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Aug. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English podel; akin to Low German pudel puddle, Old English pudd ditch
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of puddle was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing puddle
Dictionary Entries Near puddle
Cite this Entry
“Puddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puddle. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on puddle
Nglish: Translation of puddle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of puddle for Arabic Speakers
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