Word
cuddle
Phoneticscud·dle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkədəɫ/
UK/kˈʌdəl/
Definitions
01to hold affectionately
B1 · Intermediate
v. to hold someone close in your arms to show that you love them or to make them feel safe.
v. to hold someone or something close in an affectionate embrace, often for an extended period.
“The mother sat on the sofa to cuddle her crying toddler until he fell asleep.”
“After a long day apart, the couple liked to cuddle on the sofa while watching a film to unwind together.”
02to lie close for warmth
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to lie or sit very close to someone else, usually to stay warm or feel comfortable.
v. to nestle or lie close together, typically to benefit from shared body heat or emotional comfort.
“The puppies all cuddled together in the corner of their bed to stay warm.”
“During the blizzard, the hikers had to cuddle together under their emergency blankets to maintain their core body temperatures.”
03an affectionate embrace
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a long, loving hug.
n. an instance of holding someone affectionately in one's arms.
“My daughter always gives me a big cuddle before she goes to school.”
“The child sought a reassuring cuddle from his father after being startled by the sudden clap of thunder.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, but probably from a frequentative form of Middle English *cudden, cuththen, keththen (“to embrace”), a variant of cuthen, kuthen, kithen (“to be familiar with, make known”), from Middle English cuth, couth (“known, familiar”), equivalent to couth + -le. Cognate with Middle Dutch kudden (“to come together, flock together”). More at couth.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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