Huddle
/ˈhʌdəl/
nounverbB1
Definition
Huddle is when people or animals gather very close to each other, usually to keep warm, feel safe, or share information quietly. It can be a noun (the group itself) or a verb (the action of gathering closely).
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See It in Action
A small, close group of people or animals
- •The players formed a huddle before the next play.
- •The puppies slept in a warm huddle to keep cozy.
- •During the storm, the family stayed in a huddle in the living room.
To come close together in a tight group
- •We huddled around the fire to stay warm.
- •The children huddled under the blanket during the scary story.
- •The team huddled to discuss their strategy quietly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "huddle" like "group," but much smaller and very close together—like a tiny circle of friends.
- ✓Picture a group of people standing close in cold weather, their bodies almost touching to stay warm.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to share a secret quietly with close friends or protect yourself from cold wind.
- ✓Sounds like "HUDDLE" → imagine a little "cuddle" but with more people, all close and cozy.
- ✓Think of sports teams gathering in a circle before a play, whispering plans and supporting each other.
- ✓NOT like "crowd" (big and spread out), "huddle" is small and tight.
- ✓NOT like "gather" (can be loose or large), "huddle" means very close and tight.
- ✓NOT like "scatter" (spread apart), "huddle" means coming together tightly.
Try Other Words
- •Cluster: a small close group (Use when talking about objects or people close together but less emotional)
- •Crowd: a large number of people (Use when the group is big and less close)
- •Gather: to come together (Use when the closeness is not important or the group is bigger)
- •Snuggle: to lie close for warmth or comfort (Use when focusing on warmth and comfort, often for people or animals)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix) — "huddle" is a simple root word
- •Etymology: Originates from Middle English "huddlen," meaning to crowd or nestle together
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe close gathering for warmth or protection
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in sports, everyday life, and descriptions of animals or people staying close
Reflect & Connect
•When have you seen or been part of a huddle? What made that moment special or important?
•How does being in a huddle change the way people feel or communicate compared to standing apart?
Fill in the blanks
1.The team formed a huddle ___ to share their plan quietly before the game started.
2.When it was very cold, the children huddled ___ the fireplace to warm up.
3.A huddle is different from a crowd because it is usually ___ and ___ together.
4.During the meeting, the group huddled ___ to hear the important news.
5.Animals often huddle ___ to protect themselves from cold weather.
6.You might huddle ___ your friends when you want to talk about a secret.
7.After the rain started, the people huddled ___ under the small roof for shelter.