Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
cuddling

cuddling

9 1.0
Holding someone close in your arms to feel warm and safe
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌd.lɪŋ/
translation icon : abrazos
  • Wish you a happy and healthy baby, an easy delivery, and lots of cuddling time with family.
  • cuddling and holding
  • cuddling time
  • need for cuddling

And what I was fascinated about is the cuddling.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • She'd relished the cuddling before the accident, but now when he pressed his scarred mouth against hers, she felt sick.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Going for walks, chasing animals, begging for food, getting in trouble, playing fetch, cuddling, and taking long naps.

  • How long have you been in the cuddling business?

    Blog text (21)

  • And so I was thinking, wow, cuddling feels so much better than being anxious.

  • And I want to be held in a way that has a lot of cuddling and warmth to it.

  • And it really creates warmth, as does cuddling as well.

  • Now, the Penfield woman who started her own cuddling business is getting more national attention than she ever imagined.

    Blog text (21)

  • Afterward, he reserves his busy time for some cuddling and some more pampering.

    Blog text (28)

  • Physical: hugging, kissing, caressing, cuddling, holding, and other forms of physical affection.

    Blog text (24)

  • After a long day, all he wanted was some cuddling with his partner on the couch.

Synonyms

embrace
vscuddling
61 3.3

A close hug that shows affection and comfort

is softer and used mainly for loving comfort and warmth
snuggle
vscuddling
  • Informal
12 2.1

A warm, close hug with a person or pet to show affection

is broader, covering gentle closeness not only prolonged holds
snuggling
vscuddling
  • Informal
3 2.8

Lying or sitting close to someone to feel warm and safe

is more general and includes holding in arms for affection
spooning
vscuddling
  • Informal
3 6.9

Two people lie close on their sides facing the same way

is more general and includes many positions for close contact
hugging
vscuddling
2 1.0

An act of holding someone close to show love or friendship

is usually gentler, longer, and meant for affection and comfort
embracement
vscuddling
1 4.7

Holding someone in your arms to show affection

is mainly for comfort and warmth rather than brief social greeting
embracing
vscuddling
2.5

A close hug made by putting your arms around someone to show affection

is gentler and focuses on warmth and prolonged comfort

Antonyms

to push away
37 2.0

To move something away from you by pushing with your hands

to detach
16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

How Affectionate

spooning
  • Informal
3 6.9
cuddling
9 1.0
hug
433 1.0
to pat
110 1.0

Surface Forms

cuddling singular
cuddlings plural

Morphology

cuddling = cuddle (transparent) = cuddle + ing

Standard nominalization/gerund of the verb 'cuddle' using '-ing', with meaning directly derived as the act or state of cuddling.

Etymology

Cuddling comes from the verb cuddle, a word that likely began as a simple way to say 'to hold close' and is like the familiar word coddle ('to treat with care'). So, cuddling is literally holding someone close for comfort and warmth.