chuckle

[ chuhk-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, chuck·led, chuck·ling.

1. to laugh softly or amusedly, usually with satisfaction:

   They chuckled at the child's efforts to walk.

2. to laugh to oneself:

   to chuckle while reading.

3. Obsolete. to cluck, as a fowl.

noun

1. a soft laugh, usually of satisfaction.
2. Obsolete. the cluck of a hen.

chuckle

/ ˈtʃʌkəl /

verb

1. to laugh softly or to oneself
2. (of animals, esp hens) to make a clucking sound

noun

1. a partly suppressed laugh

Derived Forms

• ˈchuckler, noun
• ˈchucklingly, adverb

Other Words From

• chuckler noun
• chuckling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuckle¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; chuck ³ + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuckle¹

C16: probably from chuck ³

Synonym Study

See laugh.

Example Sentences

“I wish good luck to the other pitchers,” Soto said with a chuckle.

From Washington Post

Immediately my cheeks flushed, while the chuckles of my colleagues filled the awkward silence.

From Outside Online

You got a good chuckle at the expense of my imprecise wording.

From FiveThirtyEight

I got a good chuckle out of finding it stuffed in a corner of my house, because it reminded me of how long my now year-old mountain-bike apparel brand, Cosmic Dirt, was in the making, and how it was destined to be bigger than myself.

From Outside Online

You probably know better than to inhale oil, but it’s worth taking extra precautions to avoid any errant chuckles or gasps while your mouth is full of fat.

From Popular-Science

“I have no idea how many of them have had military training before,” he tells me later with a chuckle.

From The Daily Beast

“We need to call it something else,” Mitchell offered with a chuckle.

From The Daily Beast

She would of course always come clean, after everyone enjoyed an awkward chuckle.

From The Daily Beast

“During the test, we tried all the dances and I nailed none of them,” says Boseman with a chuckle.

From The Daily Beast

A group of local teens in the small town got a chuckle out of the “rich kid” driving a “funny ass car.”

From The Daily Beast

Ruefully Aristide found no answers save in the general chuckle-headedness of mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

His chuckle stopped as lightning flare threw the shadow of a man across the ground at Joseph's feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Jones said this with a chuckle and a sly expression in his face, as he glanced meaningly at his companion.

From Project Gutenberg

"It would be a highly indecent spectacle, my dear," said the vicar with a chuckle.

From Project Gutenberg

His free hand closed over hers, but she snatched her own away with indignation that ended in a chuckle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chortle
• laugh
• smile
• snicker