MEANING
To walk with short, awkward steps and a side-to-side swaying motion.
Use it for
Show a short, side-to-side swaying walk.Its rhythm can lend a character or creature a recognizable, gently comic movement.
Words that belong together
- waddle across
- waddle along
- waddle from side to side
On the page
The toddler waddled across the lawn, arms lifted for balance.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- waddle
- Past tense
- waddled
- Past participle
- waddled
- Present participle
- waddling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- waddle
- Present continuous
- am/is/are waddling
- Present perfect
- have/has waddled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been waddling
- Past
- waddled
- Past continuous
- was/were waddling
- Past perfect
- had waddled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been waddling
- Future
- will waddle
- Future continuous
- will be waddling
- Future perfect
- will have waddled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been waddling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Usually describes a distinctive gait; it can sound affectionate or comic, so use carefully for people.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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