wiggle

American  

[wig-uhl] / ˈwɪg əl /

verb (used without object)

wiggled, wiggling

1. to move or go with short, quick, irregular movements from side to side.

   The puppies wiggled with delight.

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verb (used with object)

wiggled, wiggling

1. to cause to wiggle; move quickly and irregularly from side to side.

noun

1. a wiggling movement or course.

2. a wiggly line.

3. a dish of creamed fish or shellfish and peas.

idioms

1. get a wiggle on, to hurry up; get a move on.

   If you don't get a wiggle on, we'll miss the first act.

wiggle British  

/ ˈwɪɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with jerky movements, esp from side to side

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wiggling

2. slang to hurry up

Other Word Forms

• outwiggle verb (used with object)
• wiggler noun
• wiggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of wiggle

1175–1225; Middle English wiglen; akin to Old English wegan to move, wēg motion, wicga insect; compare Norwegian vigla to totter, frequentative of vigga to rock oneself, Dutch, Low German wiggelen

Example Sentences

The reasoning: Rising gross margins often show a company has pricing power with its customers, but it also gives a company wiggle room to boost its operating margin as long as other costs don’t balloon.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

This may be an indication that dealers are leaving wiggle room to tack on undisclosed add-on charges.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

The one area with wiggle room is eating, typically her biggest area of discretionary spending.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

This decline in crime gives Mamdani "a bit of wiggle room to think creatively" about public safety in New York, including improving social services and support, Mr Egan said.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

Ella remembered the delicious drink from the sky-ferry and quickly chugged the liquid just before it could wiggle out of the cup.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton