giggle

[gig-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR giggle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), gig·gled, gig·gling.

to laugh in a silly, often high-pitched way, especially with short, repeated gasps and titters, as from juvenile or ill-concealed amusement or nervous embarrassment.

noun

a silly, spasmodic laugh; titter.

Slang. an amusing experience, incident, etc.: Going to a silly movie was always a giggle.

Nearby words

Origin of giggle

1500–10; imitative; compare Dutch gigelen, German gickeln. See -le

SYNONYMS FOR giggle

1, 2. snicker, snigger, chuckle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR giggle ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsgig·gler, noungig·gling·ly, adverbgig·gly, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for giggle

They will shriek and giggle, half-scared and half-delighted, when their father pretends to be a monster that will eat them up.
The Science of Weepies: Why We Love Crying at the Movies|Elizabeth Picciuto|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Golden Girls can make you giggle, then wipe a tear, in a twenty-second span.
Thank You for Being a Friend: Why TV Re-runs Never Grow Old|Tim Teeman|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Camille had to play her part—so she got mad at Sebastian on camera, trying not to giggle through the scene.
The Surreal Genius of Bravo’s Rich Kids Docudrama ‘NYC Prep’|Amy Zimmerman|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The giggle fit continues, finally abated with a gratified sigh.
Danielle Brooks, Taystee on ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ Is the Breakout Star of the Year|Kevin Fallon|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST

"You should have nuked him," Leno said, prompting Bush to giggle.
W. Charms on the ‘Tonight’ Show|Lloyd Grove|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Anna came down the hall, evidently trying to restrain a giggle at his dusty appearance.
In the Mist of the Mountains|Ethel Turner
Honora, in spite of her discomfort, had an insane desire to giggle.
A Modern Chronicle, Complete|Winston Churchill
I, too, felt a great prompting to giggle on every occasion, and I marvelled at myself.
The White Peacock|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Youd better go and wash your face, Neale, and she began to giggle at him.
The Corner House Girls Among the Gypsies|Grace Brooks Hill
Martin seems even to giggle and sneer and hiss in type in such expressions as "tse, tse, tse."
The Beginners of a Nation|Edward Eggleston.

British Dictionary definitions for giggle

giggle

verb

(intr) to laugh nervously or foolishly

noun

such a laugh

informal something or someone that provokes amusement

the giggles a fit of prolonged and uncontrollable giggling

for a giggle informal as a joke or prank; not seriously

Derived Formsgiggler, noungiggling, noun, adjectivegigglingly, adverbgiggly, adjective

Word Origin for giggle

C16: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for giggle

giggle

c.1500, probably imitative. Related: Giggled; giggling; giggly. As a noun from 1570s.

giggle

verb (used without object), gig·gled, gig·gling.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of giggle

Examples from the Web for giggle

giggle

verb

noun

Word Origin for giggle

giggle