huddled; huddling
ˈhəd-liŋ 
ˈhə-dᵊl-iŋ
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 WebShira Pinson, NBC News, 14 June 2024
Sheriff’s officials found the pair lying huddled on the ground, the man apparently shielding the woman from the elements with his body and clothes.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 22 May 2024
At the final media timeout, 3:33 left with the Huskies up 72-41, coach Dan Hurley walked out to greet his players at midcourt and pumped up the crowd on his way back to the huddle.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for huddle 
Verb
The rescuers who stormed the apartment found Andrey and Almog huddled together under a mattress.
—Shira Pinson, NBC News, 14 June 2024
Sheriff’s officials found the pair lying huddled on the ground, the man apparently shielding the woman from the elements with his body and clothes.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024
Noun
Daboll was delivering the calls directly into the huddle at rookie minicamp in early May already.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 22 May 2024
At the final media timeout, 3:33 left with the Huskies up 72-41, coach Dan Hurley walked out to greet his players at midcourt and pumped up the crowd on his way back to the huddle.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for huddle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'huddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huddle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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