nuzzle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does.
a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.
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to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc..
The dog nuzzled up to his master.
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to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.
verb (used with object)
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to root up with the nose, snout, etc..
training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.
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to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.
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to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into.
The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.
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to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.
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to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.
noun
verb
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to push or rub gently against the nose or snout
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(intr) to nestle; lie close
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(tr) to dig out with the snout
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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nuzzlesimple
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nuzzlessimple
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have nuzzledperfect
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has nuzzledperfect
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am nuzzlingprogressive
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are nuzzlingprogressive
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is nuzzlingprogressive
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have been nuzzlingperfect progressive
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has been nuzzlingperfect progressive
Past
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nuzzledsimple
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had nuzzledperfect
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was nuzzlingprogressive
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were nuzzlingprogressive
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had been nuzzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of nuzzle
1375–1425; late Middle English noselen to grovel; origin uncertain
Explanation
To nuzzle is to affectionately rub your nose and face against someone (or something). It's hard to get out of bed in the morning when your cat lies down on your chest and nuzzles you. A mother might nuzzle her new baby's head, and a horse will nuzzle a person's hand — hoping for an apple or sugar cube. In the fifteenth century, this word instead meant "to bring the nose to the ground," from the verb nose, "pry or smell with the nose." The current meaning was influenced by words like nestle and the now-obsolete "nursle," meaning "to nurse."
Vocabulary lists containing nuzzle
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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Home of the Brave
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Old Yeller
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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.
See Examples For:
He followed this pair across rocky hillside for a couple of hours and took his shot when the male paused to nuzzle the female.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2025
Picture the soft, cool nuzzle of your dog.
From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2024
She’s taken time to quickly nuzzle all the dogs before they entered the plane, but this guy is clearly special.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
Then they stick their beaks below the surface and “chatter” their mouths open and closed, darting their tongues in and out to create suction as they nuzzle the pond’s bottom.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 9, 2023
He sat silently on a rail, letting the velvet nose nuzzle him.
From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara
When she nuzzles the correct one, which she always seems to do, a tube squirts water into her bowl.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 7, 2023
Johnson nuzzles the Teresa’s bow against the stern of the Marjorie C. Thick fenders cushion the impact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2021
“Welcome to my home,” one of them begins as she nuzzles the other.
From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2021
What follows is an adorable animation where a cat slowly walks up to Jin, sniffs, nuzzles his hand, and then gives him a playful bite on the wrist.
From The Verge ● Aug. 19, 2021
He nuzzles his head under my hand, like he’s asking me to pet him some more.
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
"FYI we did NOT feed them as that is not allowed - they came up and nuzzled us so we just gave them a little pat then let them be."
From BBC ● May 15, 2024
As part of a Make-A-Wish program with Keeneland, Cody was introduced to the then unnamed horse as a foal, who first nuzzled the boy’s hand before putting his head in his lap.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2023
She nuzzled around a bit, kind of got my smell I guess and then literally fell asleep.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 18, 2023
“She nuzzled up into my chest and sort of bended into me, and I was struck by how soft she was, especially the top of her head,” she said.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 14, 2022
Ghost nuzzled up against his shoulder, and Jon draped an arm around him.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
“I can be your pillow, mommy,” her daughter said, nuzzling into her neck.
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
Imagine if your Apple Watch grew legs and could follow you around, not merely vibrating to remind you to stand up every half-hour, but playfully nuzzling your hand to remind you to do so.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
For a veteran with PTSD, a service dog may retrieve medication or perform anxiety-relieving actions like nuzzling or leaning against a person when the dog senses a heightened state of anxiety.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2024
A small grey kitten with an injured nose kept jumping on his shoulder, nuzzling him.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2024
Something else is needed to get from sunup to sundown: a balm, a gentle touch or nuzzling of some sort.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
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.
