wiggle

American  

[wig-uhl] / ˈwɪg əl /

verb (used without object)

wiggled, wiggling

1. to move or go with short, quick, irregular movements from side to side.

   The puppies wiggled with delight.

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verb (used with object)

wiggled, wiggling

1. to cause to wiggle; move quickly and irregularly from side to side.

noun

1. a wiggling movement or course.

2. a wiggly line.

3. a dish of creamed fish or shellfish and peas.

idioms

1. get a wiggle on, to hurry up; get a move on.

   If you don't get a wiggle on, we'll miss the first act.

wiggle British  

/ ˈwɪɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with jerky movements, esp from side to side

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wiggling

2. slang to hurry up

Other Word Forms

• outwiggle verb (used with object)
• wiggler noun
• wiggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of wiggle

1175–1225; Middle English wiglen; akin to Old English wegan to move, wēg motion, wicga insect; compare Norwegian vigla to totter, frequentative of vigga to rock oneself, Dutch, Low German wiggelen

Example Sentences

Still, he noted that the Informatica deal will offer Salesforce “financial wiggle room” and added that the newly acquired business is likely to receive “ample airtime” on the earnings call.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Meanwhile, lower-income households typically have tax bills that are already very low, leaving less wiggle room to reduce what they owe through deductions, the BofA analysts note.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

The Lower Woodies had a sparser insurance policy, but more wiggle room in its rules about rebuilding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

And I want to remind people to wiggle your toes.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

“Now wiggle the stick in front of the little guy. Pretend you’re a fish or a snapping turtle or something.”

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine