riddle
RIH-duhl
Riddle (noun) means a question or statement phrased puzzlingly, meant to be solved for fun or as a test of wit. Example: “The sphinx asked travellers a riddle before letting them pass.”
noun
1
A question or statement phrased puzzlingly, meant to be solved for fun or as a test of wit.
"The sphinx asked travellers a riddle before letting them pass."
"Can you solve this riddle: what has keys but no locks?"
2
A coarse sieve used to separate finer material from coarser material, such as sifting gravel from sand.
"The gardener shook the soil through a riddle to remove stones."
verb
1
To pierce something with many holes, or to fill it thoroughly with something, often something damaging.
"The old fence was riddled with woodworm."
"The wall was riddled with bullet holes."
How to use riddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tricky puzzle-question, a coarse sieve, or (as a verb) to fill something full of holes or problems.
Common pairings
solve a riddle
riddled with holes
riddled with errors
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Word forms
- Plural
- riddles
- Third person singular
- riddles
- Past tense
- riddled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sphinx asked travellers a _____ before letting them pass.
Etymology
From Old English rædels, meaning "counsel" or "puzzle," related to rede ("advice") — the same root that gives us the phrase "read someone's mind."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for riddle
See all rhymes for riddle →Frequently asked questions
What does “riddle” mean?
The word “riddle” means a question or statement phrased puzzlingly, meant to be solved for fun or as a test of wit. In plain terms, a tricky puzzle-question, a coarse sieve, or (as a verb) to fill something full of holes or problems.
How do you pronounce “riddle”?
“Riddle” is pronounced RIH-duhl (/ˈɹɪdəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “riddle” in a sentence?
Here is “riddle” used in a sentence: “The sphinx asked travellers a riddle before letting them pass.”
What part of speech is “riddle”?
Depending on how it is used, “riddle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “riddle” come from?
The word “riddle” comes from Old English. From Old English rædels, meaning "counsel" or "puzzle," related to rede ("advice") — the same root that gives us the phrase "read someone's mind.".
Is “riddle” a common word?
“Riddle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “riddle” have?
“Riddle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a question or statement phrased puzzlingly, meant to be solved for fun or as a test of wit.
