cuddle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
cuddles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cuddled,
past participle, past
-
cuddling
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
cuddles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cuddled,
past participle, past
-
cuddling
present participle
-
to lie close and snug; nestle.
-
to curl up in going to sleep.
noun
-
cuddles
plural
verb
-
to hold (another person or thing) close or (of two people, etc) to hold each other close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth; embrace; hug
-
to curl or snuggle up into a comfortable or warm position
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
cuddlesimple
-
cuddlessimple
-
have cuddledperfect
-
has cuddledperfect
-
am cuddlingprogressive
-
are cuddlingprogressive
-
is cuddlingprogressive
-
have been cuddlingperfect progressive
-
has been cuddlingperfect progressive
Past
-
cuddledsimple
-
had cuddledperfect
-
was cuddlingprogressive
-
were cuddlingprogressive
-
had been cuddlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cuddle
1510–20; perhaps back formation from Middle English cudliche intimate, affectionate, Old English cūthlīc, or from Middle English cuthlechen, Old English cūthlǣcan to make friends with; see couth 2, -ly
Explanation
To cuddle is to embrace in a loving, affectionate way. If you're having a terrible day, you probably wish you could just go home, get in bed, and cuddle with your cat. Cuddle might come from the Middle English couth, "known" — after all, you only cuddle with those you know. Or, cuddle may have started as baby talk that caught on. When you cuddle, you give a snuggly hug to make yourself or another person feel loved or comforted. As a noun, cuddle describes the time of the embrace, like having one last cuddle before leaving for a long trip.
Vocabulary lists containing cuddle
Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But a 5-year-old can’t cuddle a compound-interest chart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
Clover, who is of above-average intelligence and can—not to boast—twirl, kiss, cuddle, speak, “inside speak,” and perform most of the standard pup party tricks, struggled with it even after a week of dedicated training.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026
Dudamel joins him with his music box, and, sheepishly trying not to look embarrassed, they cutely cuddle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Sea lions are thigmotactic, a scientific term for very social creatures who like to cuddle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
You go to live in a big city and have your English there to cuddle you.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
She described how he had changed from being a "polite, funny little boy" who had liked lots of cuddles to one who gets overwhelmed by crowds.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
“Lots of cuddles, silence and hugs,” said Marcovitz.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025
This is all so he can coddle his sulky, wild teenage son while expecting Carrie to limit all extracurricular cuddles to her adopted kitty, Shoe.
From Salon ● May 29, 2025
It is intended for the fish, but you will not be offended if it cuddles up to other items on your plate.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2024
She cuddles with me and combs my hair with her fingers.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
The Prince of Wales posed for selfies with locals, cuddled a baby, and planted new trees during a visit to Paqueta, an island a ferry away from Rio de Janeiro.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2025
A new study -- published in the Human-Animal Interactions journal -- reveals that cows who are cuddled as therapy animals showed a strong preference for interactions with women when compared to men.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2024
While Keegan and Brian browsed vendor booths, Juliet stayed safely cuddled in her mother’s arms, sporting a T-shirt that read: “Trans Rights are Human Rights.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 16, 2023
Parker nodded toward the second-story window, where they could see Hazel and Sophie cuddled up with the nanny.
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2023
They’d waited until Alec and Lana zonked out, then scooted together and cuddled.
From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner
That’s part of the film’s genius, something that was difficult to see 25 years ago, when the most intimate relationship most people had with technology was cuddling up with their TiVo every night.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
Despite now being ten years old and away from her family for so long, Bindi is still keen for attention, cuddling up to Jilly and resting on her lap.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025
“Or cuddling with your pet. Service and volunteerism can also be a joy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
Here, the couple spent lots of time standing in for BK’s family, cuddling, grooming and wrestling with him, and tending to his emotional needs as well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Sal holds the bag up with one hand, displaying the sticker of two puppies cuddling each other.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
