twiddle
verb (used with object)
to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
twiddled
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past participleof twiddle.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof twiddle.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
twiddleverb (used with object)to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
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.
You could follow the text at the bottom of the screen, but most people just twiddled their thumbs and waited.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025
One of the most stunning allegations Thursday was that while Ohtani twiddled his batting gloves, Mizuhara refused to allow anyone else on his business team to view Ohtani’s $16-million spigot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
There was a woman in a leather hat complaining that she had been treated rudely by a county worker, a man watching while he twiddled a Rubik’s Cube.
From New York Times ● Nov. 5, 2022
Attempting to locate one of the rarest animals on the planet, US government scientist Joe Madison pointed an antiquated VHF tracking antenna at a tangle of thick vegetation and twiddled some dials on the receiver.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 7, 2019
When he focused on keeping his left foot still, his claws twiddled.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
