curl up

verb

curled up; curling up; curls up
Synonyms of curl upnext

intransitive verb

: to arrange oneself in or as if in a ball or curl
curl up by the fire
curl up with a good book

Synonyms of curl up

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Examples of curl up in a Sentence

I love to curl up in a big chair with a book.
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.
That makes this short-sleeve top and pants set ideal for curling up in your small airplane seat during a long flight. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026 Some dogs curl up in their owner’s lap, others stick their heads out the window and some won’t stay in one spot at all. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 The 30-year-old construction worker ended up curling up with other Cubans on the city's sea wall, the Malecón, in a desperate attempt to escape the suffocating summer heat during yet another islandwide blackout. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 And one of the best spots to sneak in a few pages is curled up in a comfy chair at home. — Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for curl up

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curl up was in 1910

Rhymes for curl up

See All Rhymes for curl up

Browse Nearby Words

curlpaper
curl up
curly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curl up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curl%20up. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

curl up

verb
: to arrange oneself in or as if in a curl or ball
curl up with a good book

More from Merriam-Webster on curl up

Nglish: Translation of curl up for Spanish Speakers

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