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

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Etymology

Origin of nestle

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

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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

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

In the center of the pan, nestle a block of feta.

From Salon ● Mar. 23, 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

Then, high above the waterfall, the woods, and the great wide valley, I nestle her among her siblings.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

“Always,” Ms. Korsgaard wryly notes of the Russian émigré, “order nestles side by side with ardor.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

As he nestles into its body, we see the primal need most animals, including humans, have for touch, for embrace.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026

Adeeb Mazal is part of the emergency team in his northern Israeli village, which nestles right next to the imposing border wall with Lebanon.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2023

A floating, translucent marble cube, it nestles at the foot of One World Trade Center, just eight stories high, a runt in a herd of mega-tall commercial skyscrapers but impossible to miss.

From New York Times ● Sep. 13, 2023

Like an abandoned foal that nestles against cows in the barnyard, maybe I just need to feel the warmth of belonging.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

The US-based energy giant struck a deal last month to take control of Papua LNG, which aims to tap into massive gas fields nestled in the forests of Papua New Guinea.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

A rustic stew pot nestled beside a little clutch of flowers?

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

The conservation effort adds another layer of privacy to the already secluded mansion, which is nestled into the mountainside in Incline Village, Nevada, overlooking Lake Tahoe.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

The ranch is nestled in a corner of Nebraska that's home to rolling green hills under sweeping Midwestern skies, the landscape dotted with grain silos and feedlots alongside fields and fields of bovines.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

There was even a giant Christmas tree, sparkling with the flames of a hundred candles nestled on its branches.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

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

In 2010, Kings of Leon were forced to cut short a performance in St Louis, Missouri, after a flock of pigeons nestling above the stage took a dislike to their act.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 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

I had the bellhop put the bags and the tape-recorder into a waiting taxi, paid my hotel bill, and walked out the revolving door with the object of the search nestling in my jacket pocket.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

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