Word
wiggling
Phoneticswig·gling
US/ˈwɪɡəɫɪŋ/
UK/wˈɪɡlɪŋ/
Definition
v. to make small, quick movements from side to side. You do it with your toes, your nose, or a loose tooth.
v. to move with short, quick side-to-side motions; to cause something to move in this way.
Examples
“She is wiggling her toes in the warm sand.”
“The little boy keeps wiggling in his chair because he cannot sit still.”
“The puppy keeps wiggling with excitement while the vet tries to listen to its heartbeat.”
Examples
simple
“She is wiggling her toes in the warm sand.”
contextual
“The little boy keeps wiggling in his chair because he cannot sit still.”
complex
“The puppy keeps wiggling with excitement while the vet tries to listen to its heartbeat.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “wiggling” in context.
Verb
01. keep wiggling
“He kept wiggling his loose tooth with his tongue.”
verb + noun
02. nose wiggle
“Her nose wiggles when she smells something funny.”
noun + verb
03. start wiggling
“She started wiggling her nose when she laughed.”
verb + noun
04. stop wiggling
“Please stop wiggling your foot during the test.”
verb + noun
05. toe wiggle
“His sore toe wiggles when he tries to walk.”
noun + verb
06. tooth wiggle
“My loose tooth wiggles every time I eat.”
noun + verb
Adjective
07. constant wiggling
“His constant wiggling in class showed he was nervous.”
adj + noun
08. gentle wiggling
“The baby did some gentle wiggling of her toes.”
adj + noun
09. playful wiggling
“The puppy showed playful wiggling when it saw its owner.”
adj + noun
10. keep wiggling your fingers
“It is cold, so keep wiggling your fingers to stay warm.”
11. stop wiggling in your seat
“The teacher asked him to stop wiggling in his seat.”
12. wiggle a loose tooth
“The boy keeps wiggling a loose tooth with his tongue.”
Usage
Used both without an object and with a direct object ('wiggle your toes').
Real-World Examples
“Big Mix!" Miranda said as the pair wiggled and thrusted gleefully on the floor.” “Google talks a lot about Magic Pointer, which you can activate by wiggling the cursor.” “As a child on my parents’ allotment, I delighted in finding them in the soil as potatoes were dug in, fascinated by their soft, alien form wiggling in my hand.” “A florist has to wiggle and arrange them perfectly so there are no empty holes.” Related words
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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