giggle

American  

[gig-uhl] / ˈgɪg əl /

verb (used without object)

giggled, giggling

1. 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.

   Synonyms:

   chuckle, snigger, snicker

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noun

1. a silly, spasmodic laugh; titter.

   Synonyms:

   chuckle, snigger, snicker

2. Slang. an amusing experience, incident, etc..

   Going to a silly movie was always a giggle.

giggle British  

/ ˈɡɪɡəl /

verb

1. (intr) to laugh nervously or foolishly

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noun

1. such a laugh

2. informal something or someone that provokes amusement

3. a fit of prolonged and uncontrollable giggling

4. informal as a joke or prank; not seriously

Other Word Forms

• giggler noun
• giggling noun
• gigglingly adverb
• giggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of giggle

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

Example Sentences

He seemed almost to giggle, but stopped himself.

From The Wall Street Journal

As those scenes played in New York, Swift affectionately turned to Saunders and yelled, "YES!" as he giggled and covered his face in feigned shyness.

From BBC

A nearby park, where teenagers kick around soccer balls and giggling packs of children roam after school, was empty.

From Los Angeles Times

"Well, he's a top dog in 2025 - absolutely, yeah," Shearer replies coyly, before the pair and Gary Lineker erupt into fits of giggles.

From BBC

“Like, I know this is hard to explain,” she said, giggling at the comprehensiveness of his ignorance.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cackle
• chuckle
• guffaw
• laugh
• snicker