canoodle
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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canoodles,
present (3rd person singular)
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canoodled,
past participle, past
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canoodling
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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canoodlesimple
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canoodlessimple
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have canoodledperfect
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has canoodledperfect
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am canoodlingprogressive
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are canoodlingprogressive
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is canoodlingprogressive
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have been canoodlingperfect progressive
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has been canoodlingperfect progressive
Past
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canoodledsimple
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had canoodledperfect
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was canoodlingprogressive
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were canoodlingprogressive
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had been canoodlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of canoodle
Explanation
To canoodle is to embrace and fondle. Romantic couples canoodle. When people are getting a little physical romantically, they're canoodling. This somewhat silly-sounding word applies to somewhat innocent physical affection. For some reason, this word is used frequently by celebrity reporters who love to write about who a hunky actor or sultry starlet is canoodling with at a cafe. However, anyone can canoodle as long as you have a date.
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:
At times in “Hamnet,” 1582, the year of their marriage, could pass for a millennium earlier, a rustic era where neither has anything more pressing to do than canoodle under the trees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
In one clever bit of staging, Hamlet tarries in the forefront as the king and queen canoodle in back and guards race by mid-stage between them, fresh from sighting the former king’s ghost.
From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2022
We’ll still see the Tramp and his Lady canoodle, But they’ll kiss at the end of a gluten-free zoodle.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 4, 2018
After escaping Olivia’s clutches, Ben slips out of the compound to canoodle in the streets with Lauren B. and Jubilee gets more and more worked up.
From Time ● Feb. 1, 2016
Anyone who has endured watching couples shamelessly canoodle on Facebook or Twitter should be relieved.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2013
Shawn’s Final Date: The happy couple canoodles in a winery, and Shawn casually asks her, “What else is going on?”
From Time ● Jul. 28, 2015
It is hard to come across as a pesky underdog when your top wide receiver canoodles with Kardashians and your stadium scoreboard showers fans with sapphires after every touchdown.
From New York Times ● Dec. 10, 2010
There was the time Ellen DeGeneres, just days out of the closet, canoodled with new girlfriend Anne Heche right in front of Bill Clinton.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2023
Though famous couples like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and John Lennon and Yoko Ono once canoodled in happy seclusion here, King Eddy is frequented now more by business masterminds.
From New York Times ● Apr. 21, 2018
And Spicer, a man no self-respecting person would want to be in a same room with, was canoodled by celebrities for the rest of the night.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 20, 2017
When I asked if she and Elvis had canoodled, it turned out that she'd never heard the word.
From BBC ● May 21, 2013
At the cuddle party, I had canoodled with panache, but had I dominated?
From Slate ● Dec. 7, 2010
AI-generated videos and images of Rana and Hajdini on dinner dates and canoodling in an office have circulated on social media.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
A fan in the audience proposed to her shortly after photos of her and Trudeau canoodling on a yacht surfaced.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025
So … why is she promoting this book by canoodling yet again with the very people further undermining her profession?
From Slate ● Mar. 6, 2024
Moments after we saw the grieving widower in tears, he was canoodling with someone he’d just met.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2023
I didn’t care if she’d spent all day canoodling with him; I didn’t care if she’d left because she was furious with me.
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.
