giggled

IPA/ˈɡɪɡ.əl/
KK[ɡˈɪɡəld]IPA/ˈɡɪɡ.əl/

giggled — verb

  • giggledpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • giggleds3rd person singular
  • giggleding-ing form
  • gigglededpast simple

1. to make a series of quick, quiet laughs because something strikes you as amusing

1.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to make a series of quick, quiet laughs because something strikes you as amusing, silly, or embarrassing, often in a way that is difficult to stop

Example

The children giggled at the clown's funny hat during the birthday party.

giggled at + [cause of amusement]

Mei-Lin tried not to giggle when her teacher's wig slipped sideways in class.

try not to giggle + when-clause showing context

Common collocations
  • giggle at
  • giggle nervously
  • try not to giggle
  • can't stop giggling
  • start giggling
  • giggle uncontrollably
Synonyms
  • chuckle

    a quieter, deeper, more controlled laugh that shows mild amusement rather than a struggle to suppress

  • snicker

    a quiet disrespectful laugh, often at someone's mistake, with a mocking tone

  • titter

    a restrained group laugh, often nervous, common in formal or awkward situations

Antonyms
  • sob

    to cry noisily, expressing the opposite emotion

Grammar Patterns

giggle at + [something/someone]

giggle + when-clause

can't stop giggling

Usage Note

Giggle differs from laugh — it suggests short, high-pitched sounds that are harder to suppress, often in situations where the person is trying to stay quiet. This sense is intransitive and rarely takes a direct object.

Common Mistakes

She giggled loudly during the serious meeting.
She giggled quietly during the serious meeting.
Giggling is typically a quiet, suppressed form of laughter; loud giggle sounds contradictory.

giggled — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Giggle, chuckle, snicker, and titter all describe types of laughter, but they differ in sound, control, and social tone. A giggle is a series of short, high-pitched, suppressed laughs that the person often finds hard to stop — it can signal nervousness, embarrassment, or genuine amusement at something silly. A chuckle is quieter, deeper, and more controlled, usually showing mild pleasure or private amusement without the same loss of control. Snicker adds an element of disrespect: it means to laugh quietly at someone in a mocking or scornful way. Titter is a restrained, often nervous laugh shared by a group, common in formal settings where laughter feels inappropriate. For example: The children giggled when the puppy tripped over its own ears. She chuckled softly at her own memory of the trip. The bullies snickered when the new student dropped his lunch tray. The audience tittered awkwardly after the speaker's strange joke.

giggle ↗chuckle ↗snicker ↗titter ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • fit of giggles
  • burst into giggles
  • try not to giggle

Prepositions

Etymology

Germanic (echoic origin)English

The word 'giggle' first appeared in the early 1500s. It is an imitation of the sound of light, repeated laughter — a type of word called 'echoic' or 'onomatopoeic'. Similar words exist in Dutch (giggelen) and German (gickeln), suggesting a shared Germanic root that mimics the same breathy, high-pitched sound.