nestle

American  

[nes-uhl] / ˈnɛs əl /

verb (used without object)

• nestles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• nestled,
  past participle,  past
• nestling
  present participle

1. to lie close and snug, like a bird in a nest; snuggle or cuddle.

2. to lie or be located in a sheltered spot; be naturally or pleasantly situated.

   a cottage nestling in a pine grove.

3. Archaic.

   1. to make or have a nest.

   2. to make one's home; settle in a home.

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verb (used with object)

• nestles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• nestled,
  past participle,  past
• nestling
  present participle

1. to settle or ensconce snugly.

   He nestled himself into the hay for a short nap.

2. to put or press confidingly or affectionately.

   She nestled her head on his shoulder.

3. to provide with or settle in a nest, as a bird.

nestle British  

/ ˈnɛsəl /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by up or down) to snuggle, settle, or cuddle closely

2. (intr) to be in a sheltered or protected position; lie snugly

3. (tr) to shelter or place snugly or partly concealed, as in a nest

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nestler
  noun
• unnestled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• nestling
  present
• nestled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• nestle
  simple
• nestles
  simple
• have nestled
  perfect
• has nestled
  perfect
• am nestling
  progressive
• are nestling
  progressive
• is nestling
  progressive
• have been nestling
  perfect progressive
• has been nestling
  perfect progressive

Past

• nestled
  simple
• had nestled
  perfect
• was nestling
  progressive
• were nestling
  progressive
• had been nestling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will nestle
  simple
• will have nestled
  perfect
• will be nestling
  progressive
• will have been nestling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of nestle

before 1000; Middle English nestlen, Old English nestlian, cognate with Dutch nestelen. See nest, -le

Explanation

To nestle into something is to get snug, comfy, and warm in it. You might nestle into your mother’s shoulder, or into a pile of blankets on the couch. People must think that birds live comfortable lives, because they describe really cozy, safe, and comfortable places as nests: places to nestle into. And it’s not just people and birds that nestle. A cottage might be nestled into the crook of a hill, or a mouse nestled into a pile of wood shavings.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nestle nestles nestled nestling

She uses tweezers to nestle the roasted halves on a swirl of verdant puree, then tops it off with crispy fried leaves.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

“You can nestle under a blanket and watch the storms on the mountains,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

When he reached 84, he went past Hobbs' Ashes tally of 3,636 to nestle behind Bradman, then went to three figures with a paddle off Bethell for three.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026

“People who live in the Palisades don’t want to leave. It’s a magical place — they nestle into the mountains right by the ocean,” Walker said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2025

Crumbling stone dwellings of the long-vanished Kayenta Anasazi, the creators of this rock art, nestle in protective nooks.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Her shop, Love Stories in Cardiff's characterful Castle Arcade, nestles among a group of other independent businesses.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Handcrafted from an 18th-century original, this grater nestles neatly in a bowl for shredding cheese or vegetables.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

A man at a party is allowed to hold a baby, which cries as soon as it nestles into his arms.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2023

We are huddled around a couple of microphones in a window-less room, deep within the interior of MIT Media Lab, which neatly nestles into the modern urban-academic realm that is Cambridge Massachusetts.

From Salon ● May 20, 2023

Elizebeth nestles by his side with a wan smile.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

The new Whigs record is a strong collection of material that stands solidly amongst the existing catalog of v2 Whigs albums, with big rockers, piano ballads, and tape loops neatly nestled against guitar feedback.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

Residents of the city, which is nestled in the Appalachian foothills with the Tennessee River running through the heart of a lively downtown, enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, biking and boating.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Far from the solemn pomp of the Vatican, nestled under the arcades of the mountain town of Santarcangelo di Romagna, a tailor clad all in black leaned over his sketch.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

There, she’d begun to plant her roots in an artistic community, spending most of the last year and some change nestled in with her new flock of bohemian neighbors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

And I would say to that, “O wise and merciful Mrs. Miller, every story is nestled somewhere within another story.”

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

In the oven, the liquid reduces into something richer, the dumplings nestling into a creamy, deeply savory sauce that edges toward casserole territory.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

One unexpected finding was that warmer extremes were linked to heavier fledging weights during the nestling stage.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 12, 2026

The study shows wildebeest frequently crisscross the Sand River and the areas surrounding the Ritz-Carlton, even though they avoid forested areas nestling the camp due to the risk of predators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

Sharpe noted that La’i was naturally hatched on Santa Rosa Island in 2013 and was banded, or tagged, as a nestling that year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2024

He was nestling with thin air and cinders.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut