cuddle
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to lie close and snug; nestle.
-
to curl up in going to sleep.
noun
verb
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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
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cuddlesimple
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cuddlessimple
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have cuddledperfect
-
has cuddledperfect
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am cuddlingprogressive
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are cuddlingprogressive
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is cuddlingprogressive
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have been cuddlingperfect progressive
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has been cuddlingperfect progressive
Past
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cuddledsimple
-
had cuddledperfect
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was cuddlingprogressive
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were cuddlingprogressive
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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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Comfy Cozy Lingo
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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.
Dudamel joins him with his music box, and, sheepishly trying not to look embarrassed, they cutely cuddle.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
Some humans want to hurt you, and others want to crowd, cage, and cuddle you—when what you really need is just grass, mud, clean water, and a little space.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
I lead him back to bed, cuddle up beside him.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
Sea lions are thigmotactic, a scientific term for very social creatures who like to cuddle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
The boys cuddle with me, sensing something is wrong.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
