huddled; huddling
ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ 
ˈhəd-liŋ
1
British
: to arrange carelessly or hurriedly
the solemnities had to be huddled through at express speed—
Manchester Examiner
Manchester Examiner2
a
: to crowd together
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free …—Emma Lazarus
Emma Lazarus
b
: to draw (oneself) together : crouch
People were huddled around their radios.
3
: to wrap oneself closely in
huddled her coat around her
1
a
: to gather in a close-packed group
They huddled around the campfire.
b
: to curl up : crouch
Students huddled over their desks.
2
a
: to hold a consultation
huddled to discuss the proposal
b
football
: to gather away from the line of scrimmage to receive instructions (as from the quarterback) for the next down (see down entry 5 sense 3b) : to gather in a huddle (see huddle entry 2 sense 2b)
1
: a close-packed group : bunch
huddles of children
a huddle of cottages
2
a
: meeting, conference
The boss is in a huddle with the marketing director.
b
football
: a brief gathering of players away from the line of scrimmage to receive instructions (as from the quarterback) for the next down (see down entry 5 sense 3b)
Synonyms
Examples of huddle in a Sentence
Verb
We huddled around the campfire.
The sheep huddled together for warmth.
The students huddled over their desks.
Union representatives are huddling to discuss the proposal.
Noun
sheep standing in a huddle
The boss is in a huddle with the marketing director.
The quarterback called the offense into a huddle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2025
For four hours, families huddled in fear as ICE swept through their homes and neighborhood.
—Juan Peña, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025
Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Related article Brawl ensues after Michigan deals stunning upset loss to rival Ohio State
Security and police quickly rushed in to try and break it up, while players on the court remained in their huddles.
—Jamie Barton, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for huddle 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, and Brady Corbett huddled together for a convivial conversation over the pumping jazz, and Vogue columnist Raven Smith and British presenter Clara Amfo shared some cackles.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2025
For four hours, families huddled in fear as ICE swept through their homes and neighborhood.
—Juan Peña, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
But when members of the state Assembly gathered in Sacramento on Thursday morning, Democrats broke into a private huddle for 45 minutes.
—Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Related article Brawl ensues after Michigan deals stunning upset loss to rival Ohio State
Security and police quickly rushed in to try and break it up, while players on the court remained in their huddles.
—Jamie Barton, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for huddle
Articles Related to huddle
Dictionary Entries Near huddle
Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huddle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
huddle
2 of 2 noun1
: a close-packed group : bunch
2
b
: a brief gathering of football players away from the line of scrimmage to hear instructions for the next play
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