nuzzle

American  

[nuhz-uhl] / ˈnʌz əl /

verb (used without object)

• nuzzles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• nuzzled,
  past participle,  past
• nuzzling
  present participle

1. to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does.

   a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.

2. to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc..

   The dog nuzzled up to his master.

3. to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.

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verb (used with object)

• nuzzles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• nuzzled,
  past participle,  past
• nuzzling
  present participle

1. to root up with the nose, snout, etc..

   training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.

2. to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.

3. to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into.

   The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.

4. to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.

5. to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.

noun

1. an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

nuzzle British  

/ ˈnʌzəl /

verb

1. to push or rub gently against the nose or snout

2. (intr) to nestle; lie close

3. (tr) to dig out with the snout

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unnuzzled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• nuzzling
  present
• nuzzled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• nuzzle
  simple
• nuzzles
  simple
• have nuzzled
  perfect
• has nuzzled
  perfect
• am nuzzling
  progressive
• are nuzzling
  progressive
• is nuzzling
  progressive
• have been nuzzling
  perfect progressive
• has been nuzzling
  perfect progressive

Past

• nuzzled
  simple
• had nuzzled
  perfect
• was nuzzling
  progressive
• were nuzzling
  progressive
• had been nuzzling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will nuzzle
  simple
• will have nuzzled
  perfect
• will be nuzzling
  progressive
• will have been nuzzling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of nuzzle

1375–1425; late Middle English noselen to grovel; origin uncertain

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nuzzle nuzzles nuzzled nuzzling

Note how she dances, ignoring the regimented steps to nuzzle sweetly into her husband’s rib cage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

Picture the soft, cool nuzzle of your dog.

From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2024

As soon as the two goats were introduced, Harold showed lots of interest and went over to nuzzle them.

From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2024

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

The girl did not know what to say to that, so she said nothing, continuing instead to let the cow nuzzle her hand.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

A cat, the unit's unofficial mascot, nuzzles against one of the propellers.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2024

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

Her connection to them was obvious at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s summer farm here when she had Brickbat and My Teddy Bear — former racehorses — curtsying to her for peppermints and nuzzles.

From New York Times ● Aug. 31, 2021

She flings her arms around my shoulders and nuzzles closer.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

After a brisk run in a team category, the 51-year-old son of the 1971 winner sprinted off his boat, high-fived a line of spectators and playfully nuzzled a woman seated in a lawnchair.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

“I don’t want to lose a finger,” Marc said as a chestnut horse nuzzled his palm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2025

"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

She nuzzled around a bit, kind of got my smell I guess and then literally fell asleep.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 18, 2023

Iorek bent his head over her and nuzzled at her scorched and smoky hands.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

"They're so funny looking. There's something about the very oversized bill, their behaviour on some of the trail camera footage, the nuzzling behaviour. And they're also so clumsy."

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

“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

Then the three-year-old is scooped upside down into the air and the view zooms up to Father’s face laughing and nuzzling into her belly.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

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