waggle

American  

[wag-uhl] / ˈwæg əl /

verb (used without object)

waggled, waggling

1. to wobble or shake, especially while in motion.

   The ball waggled slowly to a stop. The leaves of the tree waggled in the wind.

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verb (used with object)

waggled, waggling

1. to move up and down or from side to side in a short, rapid manner; wag.

   to waggle one's head.

2. Golf. to make a waggle with (a golf club).

noun

1. a waggling motion.

2. Golf. a swinging movement made with a golf club to and fro over the ball prior to a stroke.

waggle British  

/ ˈwæɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

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noun

1. a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

Other Word Forms

• wagglingly adverb
• waggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of waggle

First recorded in 1585–95; wag + -le

Example Sentences

Scientists have spent years decoding the honey bee "waggle dance," a highly sophisticated form of communication.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

Every day, new people came, some people left, but the constant was Syd, his presence, his waggle, his ability to give unexpected joy.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2025

He added: "He had a super swing - a no-nonsense swing. One waggle and away it went."

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2025

It can also do something more complicated, which is the very famous waggle dance—it’s the communication pattern they use to convey the location of a nectar source to other honeybees.

From Scientific American • Feb. 7, 2023

He would get the fire going and the plane would see the smoke and circles, circle once, then again, and waggle its wings.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen