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verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

giggle

GIHGL

Giggle (verb) means to laugh quietly in a light, often nervous or amused way. Example: “The kids giggled every time the puppet fell over.”

verb
1
To laugh quietly in a light, often nervous or amused way.
"The kids giggled every time the puppet fell over."
noun
1
A light, high-pitched laugh.
"Her giggle was contagious."

How to use giggle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft, light laugh, or the act of laughing that way.

Common pairings
a fit of giggles giggle nervously give someone the giggles

Word forms

giggled past tense, giggles plural, giggles singular

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The kids _____ every time the puppet fell over.

Etymology

From the early 1500s, likely imitative of the sound itself.

· First attested 1500

Class of 1500 giggle joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →

Related words

Rhymes for giggle

See all rhymes for giggle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “giggle” mean?

The word “giggle” means to laugh quietly in a light, often nervous or amused way. In plain terms, a soft, light laugh, or the act of laughing that way.

How do you pronounce “giggle”?

“Giggle” is pronounced GIHGL (/ˈɡɪɡl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “giggle” in a sentence?

Here is “giggle” used in a sentence: “The kids giggled every time the puppet fell over.”

What part of speech is “giggle”?

Depending on how it is used, “giggle” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “giggle” come from?

The word “giggle” dates back to around 1500. From the early 1500s, likely imitative of the sound itself.

Is “giggle” a common word?

“Giggle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “giggle” have?

“Giggle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to laugh quietly in a light, often nervous or amused way.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial