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to giggle uncontrollably

to giggle uncontrollably

1 4.0
To laugh in a way you cannot stop because you find something very funny or feel embarrassed
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈɡɪɡəl ˌʌn.kənˈtroʊl.ə.bli/
translation icon : reírse incontrolablemente
  • I suppose I worked up a good sweat with all the spastic movements, but mainly I focused on not making a scene while I giggled uncontrollably at how awful I was.

Examples

  • The joke was so funny that they started to giggle uncontrollably.

  • Judith is giggling uncontrollably.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • She started giggling uncontrollably, which of course made me giggle too.

    Blog text (15)
  • Giggle uncontrollably when the hostess yells at you for the third time.

    Blog text (12)
  • Mismatching clothes, giggling uncontrollably, yelling at Penskes, and takin' names since 1985.

    Blog text (4)
  • When she saw the clown, she couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably.

  • After hearing the silly story, the kids began to giggle uncontrollably.

Synonyms

to giggle
vsto giggle uncontrollably
153 1.0

Laugh in a silly or nervous way with short high sounds

is the same silliness but more uncontrolled and hard to stop
to crack up
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
18 3.5

To laugh loudly and without control

is similar but highlights a lighter, sillier sound rather than pure loudness
to howl
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
15 3.4

Laugh loudly and without control

is similar but has a higher, sillier sound and may show embarrassment
to break up
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
9 3.0

Start laughing very hard and cannot stop

is similar but emphasizes silly tone rather than the start of laughter
to burst out laughing
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
8 2.4

To suddenly start laughing loudly and not be able to stop

is similar but stresses a silly, often embarrassed quality rather than suddenness
to guffaw
vsto giggle uncontrollably
4 6.5

To laugh suddenly and loudly without control

is similar in force but is lighter and more silly in quality
to yuk
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
1 8.6

To laugh loudly in a silly, noisy way

is similar but leans toward higher, more nervous or embarrassed sounds
to laugh one's head off
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
1 3.5

To make loud sounds you cannot stop because something is very funny

is more about a silly, high sound and less about sheer loudness
to rolf
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Slang
1 9.7

To laugh very hard at something funny online

is similar but applies more to a silly, breathy uncontrolled sound
to split one's sides
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
1 5.6

To laugh very hard

is similar in intensity but focuses on a small, silly burst of sound
to roll about in laughter
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
3.3

Feel so amused that you fall over and move on the floor

is similar but focuses more on a small, silly sound than big movement
to convulse with laughter
vsto giggle uncontrollably
4.5

Laugh so hard that your body shakes

is similar in loss of control but is lighter and more silly in tone
to gag with laughter
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
6.5

To laugh so hard you almost choke

is similar in loss of control but stays cheerful and silly rather than choking
to bellylaugh
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Informal
5.2

Laugh loudly and deeply, making your stomach move

is quieter and more high voiced, focusing on silliness rather than depth
to cachinnate
vsto giggle uncontrollably
  • Archaic
9.9

To laugh loudly and without control

is similar in lack of control but is usually lighter and more playful

Antonyms

1.0

To let tears fall because you feel sad or hurt

How Intense

to guffaw
4 6.5
to laugh
1.0
to giggle uncontrollably
1 4.0
to giggle
153 1.0
to titter
3 7.4

Surface Forms

giggled uncontrollably past participle
giggling uncontrollably present participle
giggles uncontrollably third person singular

Morphology

giggle + uncontrollably

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'giggle' (to laugh with short high sounds) with 'uncontrollably' (in an unmanageable way); a learner who knows both words can infer 'to laugh in a silly, uncontrolled way'. This verb + adverb composition follows standard English patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so it should be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Giggle uncontrollably paints the picture of a small, high laugh, giggle, that grows and takes over so you cannot stop it, uncontrollably. That's why it means 'to laugh in a silly and uncontrolled way'.