ENGLISH
REFERENCE

giggling

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɡɪɡəɫɪŋ// UK //ɡˈɪɡlɪŋ// gig·gling

v. laughing in a quiet, silly way because you are nervous, embarrassed, or find something funny. It is the sound people make when they are trying to be quiet but cannot stop laughing.

v. the present participle of 'giggle'; refers to laughing in a light, silly, or repetitive manner. Often associated with nervousness, childish amusement, or suppressed emotion.


SIMPLE

The children are giggling in the back of the classroom.

CONTEXTUAL

I could hear my roommates giggling in the kitchen while they tried to bake a surprise cake.

COMPLEX

Despite the solemnity of the ceremony, the two cousins could not stop giggling at a private joke they had shared earlier that morning.

Synonyms
Usage

Intransitive; does not take a direct object. Often followed by the preposition 'at'.

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