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)
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
Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
After that whiplash start, Fleck tried to regroup his team during the quarter break, huddling up not only the defense that was on the field, but his offense and special teams players along the sideline.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
And yet here was McCallum spending a season in coaches meetings, team bus rides and player huddles.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for huddle
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Verb
Instead of huddling around benches at bus stops with modest coverings above, the first Metro Express passengers waited at fully sheltered platforms at hangar-like BRT stations.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
After that whiplash start, Fleck tried to regroup his team during the quarter break, huddling up not only the defense that was on the field, but his offense and special teams players along the sideline.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
That started in huddles, with a demonstrably more communicative Jokic.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
And yet here was McCallum spending a season in coaches meetings, team bus rides and player huddles.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for huddle
Cite this Entry
“Huddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huddle. Accessed 30 Oct. 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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