# giggle

/ˈɡɪɡəɫ/ (US) · /ɡˈɪɡəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/giggle
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

to laugh in a quiet, silly way because you are nervous, embarrassed, or think something is funny.

For teachers: to laugh in a light, silly, or repetitive manner, often as a result of amusement, nervousness, or embarrassment.

## Examples

- The children giggle whenever the teacher makes a funny face.
- The students began to giggle at the back of the classroom when they saw the typo on the whiteboard.
- It is difficult to maintain a serious expression when your best friend starts to giggle uncontrollably during a formal ceremony.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They giggled the joke." but "They giggled at the joke." — Giggle is an intransitive verb and requires a preposition like 'at' to connect to the cause of the laughter.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object; it often pairs with the preposition 'at'.

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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.