chuckle

verb

chuck·​le ˈchə-kᵊl How to pronounce chuckle (audio)
chuckled; chuckling; chuckles

intransitive verb

1
: to laugh inwardly or quietly
He chuckled as he read the comic strip.
2
: to make a continuous gentle sound resembling suppressed (see suppress sense 5a) mirth
the clear bright water chuckled over gravelB. A. Williams

transitive verb

: to utter with a chuckle
Templeton grinned. "I'll tend to this," he chuckled. He took Wilbur's tail in his mouth and bit it … . The pain revived Wilbur.E. B. White
chuckle noun
chucklesome adjective
chucklingly adverb

Examples of chuckle in a Sentence

She chuckled at the memory of what he had said. everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes
Recent Examples on the Web Asked to characterize the pair’s relationship, Servais chuckled, while Seattle general manager Justin Hollander provided some insight. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 So the news former coach Jimmy Johnson is now part of a Cowboys advisory board should be taken with a grain of salt or least the jovial spirit in which it was announced by a chuckling Johnson on a Miami radio show that has since gone viral. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2024 Romo's broadcast partner, Jim Nantz, audibly chuckled as the network went into a commercial break. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 The camera then shifted to a wide shot of the table, where Griffin could be seen looking down and chuckling. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024 Some stared blankly into space, while others chuckled and applauded on cue. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Ronald Washington, one of the two defendants standing trial for allegedly killing Jam Master Jay, chuckled in court on Wednesday when his attorney, Susan Kellman, invoked Harry Potter in her closing arguments. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 Putin asked the hall full of journalists, chuckling. Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 On Day 1, the veterans on the staff were content to chuckle at the absurdity of their interactions. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chuckle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably frequentative of chuck entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chuckle was circa 1770

Dictionary Entries Near chuckle

Cite this Entry

“Chuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chuckle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chuckle

verb
chuck·​le ˈchək-əl How to pronounce chuckle (audio)
chuckled; chuckling
ˈchək-(ə-)liŋ
: to laugh in a quiet way
chuckle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chuckle

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