huddle

American  

[huhd-l] / ˈhʌd l /

verb (used without object)

huddles, present (3rd person singular) huddled, past participle, past huddling present participle

1. to gather or crowd together in a close mass.

2. to crouch, curl up, or draw oneself together.

3. Football. to get together in a huddle.

4. to confer or consult; meet to discuss, exchange ideas, or make a decision.

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verb (used with object)

huddles, present (3rd person singular) huddled, past participle, past huddling present participle

1. to heap or crowd together closely.

2. to draw (oneself ) closely together, as in crouching; nestle (often followed byup ).

3. Chiefly British. to do hastily and carelessly (often followed by up, over, ortogether ).

4. to put on (clothes) with careless haste (often followed byon ).

noun

1. a closely gathered group, mass, or heap; bunch.

2. Football. a gathering of the offensive team in a close circle or line behind the line of scrimmage for instructions, signals, etc., from the team captain or quarterback, usually held before each offensive play.

3. a conference, or consultation, especially a private meeting to discuss serious matters.

   The labor representatives have been in a huddle for two hours.

4. confusion or disorder.

huddle British  

/ ˈhʌdəl /

noun

1. a heaped or crowded mass of people or things

2. informal a private or impromptu conference (esp in the phrase go into a huddle )

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verb

1. to crowd or cause to crowd or nestle closely together

2. (often foll by up) to draw or hunch (oneself), as through cold

3. informal (intr) to meet and confer privately

4. (tr) to do (something) in a careless way

5. rare (tr) to put on (clothes) hurriedly

huddle Idioms  

1. see go into a huddle.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• huddlingly
  adverb
• unhuddle
  verb (used with object)
• huddler
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have huddled
  perfect
• has huddled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is huddling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• huddling
  participle
• has been huddling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am huddling
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been huddling
  perfect progressive
• are huddling
  progressive
• huddles
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had huddled
  perfect
• was huddling
  progressive singular
• huddled
  simple
• huddled
  participle
• were huddling
  progressive plural
• had been huddling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will huddle
  simple
• will have huddled
  perfect
• will be huddling
  progressive
• will have been huddling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of huddle

1570–80; hud- (weak grade of root found in hide ¹ ) + -le; replacing Middle English hoder, equivalent to hod- (variant hud- ) + -er -er ⁶

Explanation

In a football game, a huddle is a quick conference before a play. Huddle can also be a dense and disorganized crowd, like a group of people standing under an awning waiting for the rain to pass. As a verb huddle means to draw people together or to crouch low or curl up. The word comes from the late 16th century, when it meant “to conceal.” That makes sense. When a burglar comes into your home, you might huddle in the closet so he'll leave without harming you. When your mom comes to see if you’re sleeping, you might huddle under your blankets with your flashlight so she won’t know you’re still up reading.

Example Sentences

“Don’t freak out,” Croddick recalled telling the Princeton huddle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

But when the NBA braintrust breaks a huddle, it’s, “3-2-1, overreact!”

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

In the locker room after the game when the Lakers prepared to break their last huddle, the lights suddenly clicked off.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

A huddle of agents formed around the president as he was removed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

The flaming wall torches of the Penitentiary seemed to glare angrily as they approached, until finally Redd motioned for everyone to huddle out of sight at the side of an old stucco-walled factory.

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

Related Words

• cluster
• confer
• consult
• converge
• crouch
• cuddle
• curl up
• gather
• snuggle