# giggling

/ˈɡɪɡəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈɪɡlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/giggling
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

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

## Examples

- The children are giggling in the back of the classroom.
- I could hear my roommates giggling in the kitchen while they tried to bake a surprise cake.
- Despite the solemnity of the ceremony, the two cousins could not stop giggling at a private joke they had shared earlier that morning.

## Usage notes

- Intransitive; does not take a direct object. Often followed by 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.