cuddle

1 of 2

verb

cud·​dle ˈkə-dᵊl How to pronounce cuddle (audio)
cuddled; cuddling
ˈkəd-liŋ, 
ˈkə-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce cuddle (audio)
Synonyms of cuddle

transitive verb

: to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection
He cuddled the puppy.

intransitive verb

: to lie close or snug : nestle, snuggle
… dewy glens where couples cuddle on blankets …—Bob Sipchen
cuddler
ˈkəd-lər, 
ˈkə-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce cuddle (audio)
noun

cuddle

2 of 2

noun

: a close embrace

Synonyms of cuddle

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of cuddle in a Sentence

Verb Let's cuddle by the fire. kittens cuddling in a basket
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco cuddle up while enjoying their Portofino, Italy vacation on July 25. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 The pair cuddled once in the park, with Rodrigo sitting in Croonenberghs’ lap and leaning her head against his chest. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 July 2026
Noun
Seymour and Medeiros, 25, hit it off almost immediately in the house, prompting two weeks of cuddle time, kissing and talk of a future together. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 And the whole family can enjoy the new Bleat & Greet experience with the ranch’s baby goats, which includes cuddle and play time with the baby animals plus info about how the goats are cared for each day. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cuddle

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1520, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cuddle was in 1520

Rhymes for cuddle

See All Rhymes for cuddle

Browse Nearby Words

cudden
cuddle
cuddlesome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuddle. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

cuddle

verb
cud·​dle
ˈkəd-ᵊl
cuddled; cuddling
ˈkəd-liŋ, 
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection
2
: to lie close : nestle, snuggle
cuddle noun
cuddly
ˈkəd-lē, 
-ᵊl-ē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cuddle

Nglish: Translation of cuddle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All