huddles; huddled; huddling
1
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to come close together in a group
People were huddling (together) in doorways to get out of the rain.
We huddled around the campfire.
The sheep huddled together for warmth.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…"—
Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus" (1883)
Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus" (1883)2
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to sit or lie in a curled or bent position
The students huddled over their desks.
3
a
: to come together to talk about something privately
Union representatives are huddling to discuss the proposal.
b
American football
: to gather in a huddle
—often + up
The players huddled up.
plural huddles
1
: a group of people or things that are close to each other
sheep standing in a huddle
2
a
: a private discussion or meeting
The boss is in a huddle with the marketing director
b
American football
: a group of players who have gathered away from the line of scrimmage for a short time to hear instructions for the next play
The quarterback called the offense into a huddle.
Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/huddle. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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