# chuckle

/ˈtʃəkəɫ/ (US) · /tʃˈʌkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chuckle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to laugh quietly

verb · CEFR B1

to laugh quietly, often because you are thinking about something funny or trying to be polite.

For teachers: to laugh in a quiet or suppressed manner, often expressive of internal amusement or satisfaction.

- He read the funny text message and started to chuckle to himself.
- The professor chuckled softly at the student's clever observation, acknowledging the wit without disrupting the flow of the seminar.

### 2. a quiet laugh

noun · CEFR B1

a short, quiet laugh.

For teachers: a quiet or suppressed act of laughter.

- The joke was not hilarious, but it gave everyone a little chuckle.
- A low chuckle escaped his lips as he watched the puppy unsuccessfully attempt to climb onto the velvet sofa.

### 3. to cluck like a hen

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to make the sound of a chicken.

For teachers: to produce the characteristic sound of a hen; to cluck.

- In the old story, the mother hen would chuckle to call her babies.
- The prose described how the poultry would chuckle and scratch in the dirt of the courtyard during the heat of the afternoon.

## Examples

- She chuckled at the funny joke.
- He chuckled softly while reading the old letter from his grandmother.
- The audience chuckled appreciatively at the comedian's subtle observation about modern dating rituals, a reaction that signaled their shared understanding of the social nuance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.