wiggle

verb wig·gle \ ˈwi-gəl \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: wiggle in a Sentence

Definition of wiggle

wiggled; wiggling play \ˈwi-g(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to move to and fro with quick jerky or shaking motions : jiggle

2 : to proceed with or as if with twisting and turning movements : wriggle

transitive verb

: to cause to wiggle

See wiggle defined for English-language learners

See wiggle defined for kids

Examples of wiggle in a Sentence

The puppy wiggled with excitement.
the baby wiggled in her sleep

Recent Examples of wiggle from the Web

The stellar stream method relies on the halo first disturbing a stream of stars, which then wiggles about, producing gaps in the stream.

— chris lee, Ars Technica, "Dark matter halos may leave twinkling wake in galaxies," 31 May 2018
In a six-month process, Arlen slowly began to regain mobility and relearned things like wiggling her fingers and lifting her arms.

— lindsay carlton, Fox News, "ESPN star Victoria Arlen: How her resolve and will to survive saved her life," 7 May 2018
The seal was able to make its way onto land, but struggled to wiggle across the sand.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Crews rescue abandoned seal pup, so young its umbilical cord was still attached," 22 May 2018
Schultz wiggled out of minor trouble in the first and second innings, before allowing two runs in the third with the damage arriving after two outs.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Deer Park opens Area playoffs with 6-3 loss to Clear Springs," 12 May 2018
There’s a kids flume, wiggle bridge and splasher, drop slide, concessions area and sand volleyball courts.

— annie alleman, chicagotribune.com, "Your guide to Chicago-area water parks," 10 May 2018
For now, Venezuelan bondholders have remained patient as some interest payments have wiggled their way through complex chains and principal payments have largely been made.

— Bloomberg.com, "Venezuelan Candidate Would Seek Debt Restructuring, Adviser Says," 23 Mar. 2018
As the young mother watched in the glow of a night light, her daughter wiggled some loose slats from the rail, worked them free and slid them out, careful to replace them afterward.

— jsonline.com, "CHAPTER 2: THE SHADOW MAN," 6 Sep. 2017
In the first two innings, McCullers appeared shaky, literally wiggling his arm between pitches, creeping up with his velocity and searching for a rhythm on the mound.

— hunter atkins, Houston Chronicle, "George Springer's RBIs help secure Astros' victory over A's," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wiggle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wiggle

Middle English wiglen, from or akin to Middle Dutch or Middle Low German wiggelen to totter; akin to Old English wegan to move — more at way

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

wiggle Synonyms

wiggle

noun

Definition of wiggle

1 : the act of wiggling

2 : shellfish or fish in cream sauce with peas

—

wiggly

play \ˈwi-g(ə-)lē\ adjective

Recent Examples of wiggle from the Web

Goofy, loving and high energy, Hiccup would do best in an active home that can give him plenty of time to get his wiggles out both physically and mentally.

— azcentral, "Rescue animals available for adoption this week in Metro Phoenix," 25 May 2018
Visitors can climb, jump, crawl and slide on the gigantic springboard, semi-circle step, the wiggle bridge, half-pipe and more.

— brandon patterson, Detroit Free Press, "3 Michigan state parks add water playgrounds for summer," 17 May 2018
Consensus: Upright running style could hurt his long-term durability, but Jones possesses elite burst and wiggle and is a home run threat who at times looks like a younger version of former Chiefs great Jamaal Charles.

— terez a. paylor, kansascity, "Live NFL Draft Tracker: Chiefs take three defensive players on Day 2 | The Kansas City Star," 27 Apr. 2018
Getting the wiggles out If your kids seem to be using your house as their playground, why not recruit one of the relatives to get them out of the house for awhile?

— amy schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A preschool teacher shares 7 great ideas to keep the kids busy during Thanksgiving prep," 15 Nov. 2017
Researchers developed formulas to decipher a nuclear explosion’s size — also known as its yield — and its location from the wiggles of a seismograph.

— rachel becker, The Verge, "Meet the scientists keeping a global watch for nuclear explosions," 9 May 2018
Thrives between the tackles but has the wiggle to produce on outside runs and in the screen game.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "2018 NFL Draft capsule: Oregon State Beavers' Ryan Nall," 26 Apr. 2018
On the opposite side of those wiggles, warm air will get pulled north to normally frigid regions.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "Harsh winter weather in eastern US could be due to warmer Arctic," 13 Mar. 2018
Outlook: Stockton Lake Guide Service reports: crappie good on jigs and minnows; bass very good on wiggle warts on bluff ends and A-Rigs on main lake points; white bass good up the rivers on jigs; walleye slow or no reports.

— tyler mahoney special to the star tyler mahoney,, kansascity, "Fishing report: Things have been slow because of weather | The Kansas City Star," 11 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of wiggle

1816

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

WIGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

wiggle

verb

Definition of wiggle for English Language Learners

: to move up and down or from side to side with short quick motions

WIGGLE Defined for Kids

wiggle

verb wig·gle \ ˈwi-gəl \

Definition of wiggle for Students

wiggled; wiggling

1 : to move up and down or from side to side with quick short motions

She wiggled her toes.

2 : to proceed with twisting and turning movements

It was an awful tangled mess, but … there was room for him to wiggle through …
—Gary Paulsen, Hatchet

wiggle

noun

Definition of wiggle for Students

: a twisting turning motion

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wiggle

Definition of wiggle

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Origin and Etymology of wiggle

wiggle Synonyms

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wiggle

Definition of wiggle

wiggly

Recent Examples of wiggle from the Web

First Known Use of wiggle

WIGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

wiggle

Definition of wiggle for English Language Learners

WIGGLE Defined for Kids

wiggle

Definition of wiggle for Students

wiggle

Definition of wiggle for Students

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