huddle

To gather very close together, often for warmth or because you are afraid.

• We huddled together to stay warm.
• The sheep huddle near the wall in bad weather.
• Everyone was huddling around the heater.

How to use it: huddle around someone/something (We huddled around the small fire.); huddle together (The children huddled together under a blanket.)

Similar words: crowd together, cluster

Opposites: scatter, disperse

Common phrases: huddle together, huddle around something, huddle for warmth

To pull your knees and arms close to your body and bend forward.

• He huddled up under the blanket.
• She huddled in a corner, hugging her knees.
• The frightened boy was huddling on the floor.

How to use it: huddle up (She huddled up with her knees against her chest.)

Similar words: curl up, crouch

Opposites: stretch out

Common phrases: huddle up, huddle under something, huddle in something

A group of people standing or sitting very close together.

• They stood in a huddle.
• A huddle of tourists blocked the doorway.
• The children formed a tight huddle to keep warm.

How to use it: a huddle of people (A huddle of children waited by the gate.)

Similar words: cluster, knot

Common phrases: in a huddle, tight huddle, huddle of people

A short meeting where players gather closely to plan their next move during a game.

• The players formed a huddle.
• The quarterback explained the next play in the huddle.
• They broke the huddle and returned to their positions.

Similar words: team meeting

Common phrases: team huddle, break the huddle, in the huddle