chuckle

verb

chuck·​le ˈchə-kᵊl How to pronounce chuckle (audio)
chuckled; chuckling; chuckles

intransitive verb

1
: to laugh inwardly or quietly
He chuckled as he read the comic strip.
2
: to make a continuous gentle sound resembling suppressed (see suppress sense 5a) mirth
the clear bright water chuckled over gravelB. A. Williams

transitive verb

: to utter with a chuckle
Templeton grinned. "I'll tend to this," he chuckled. He took Wilbur's tail in his mouth and bit it … . The pain revived Wilbur.E. B. White
chuckle noun
chucklesome adjective
chucklingly adverb

Examples of chuckle in a Sentence

She chuckled at the memory of what he had said. everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No one would’ve chuckled if a glance at Waze or a little assistance from Google Maps was a necessity Saturday night. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 2 Mar. 2025 Dixon relentlessly focuses on rebounding, and Baugh chuckled when asked how the coach helped that part of his game. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025 When asked to describe their impact together, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar chuckled while trying to find the words for an answer. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2025 This time, McKinnon's fellow abductees were portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson, who both chuckled at points throughout as they were questioned by Jon Hamm and Aidy Bryant. Lindsay Kimble, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chuckle

Word History

Etymology

probably frequentative of chuck entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chuckle was circa 1770

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chuckle. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

chuckle

verb
chuck·​le ˈchək-əl How to pronounce chuckle (audio)
chuckled; chuckling
ˈchək-(ə-)liŋ
: to laugh in a quiet way
chuckle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chuckle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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