noun
chuckle
CHUH-kuhl
noun
1
A quiet, restrained laugh.
"He gave a little chuckle at the joke."
verb
1
To laugh softly or to oneself.
"She chuckled as she read his text message."
"The old man chuckled at the children's antics."
How to Use Chuckle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, quiet laugh, or to laugh that way.
Common mistake
A chuckle is quieter and more restrained than a laugh or giggle — don't use it for loud, uncontrolled laughter.
Common pairings
a quiet chuckle
chuckle to oneself
let out a chuckle
Word Forms
more chuckle comparative, chuckled past tense, chuckles plural, chuckles singular, most chuckle superlative
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He gave a little _____ at the joke.
Etymology
From chuck (an old word meaning \"to laugh\" or make a clucking sound) + the frequentative suffix -le.