noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈwɪɡəl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪɡəl
CMU ARPABET:W IH1 G AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A rapid movement in alternating opposite directions, not necessarily regular.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She walked with a sexy wiggle.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An alternating state or characteristic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
See wiggles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: in-plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To move with irregular, back and forward or side to side motions; to shake or jiggle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
Examples
Her hips wiggle as she walks.
The jelly wiggles on the plate when you move it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the act of wiggling
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wriggle, squirm
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: motion, movement, move, motility
6
verb
Meaning 6
move to and fro
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Don't jiggle your finger while the nurse is putting on the bandage!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jiggle, joggle
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: shake, agitate
Narrower terms: wag, waggle
History
Etymology
From Middle English wiglen, probably from Middle Dutch wigelen (“to wiggle”) and perhaps Middle Low German wigelen, frequentative of wiegen (“to rock”), from wiege (“cradle”). See wain, and Dutch wieg (“cradle”). Cognate to Dutch wiggelen (“to wiggle”), Low German wiggeln (“to wiggle”).
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Central Bikol:
hikol-hikol
— wiggling movement
Danish:
vrikken
— wiggling movement
Finnish:
tutina
— wiggling movement
Finnish:
hytinä
— wiggling movement
Finnish:
hytke
— wiggling movement
Norwegian:
vrikk
— wiggling movement
Portuguese:
rebolado
— wiggling movement
Russian:
покачивание
(pokačivanije)
— wiggling movement
Central Bikol:
hikol-hikol
— to move with irregular motions
Bulgarian:
мърдам
(mǎrdam)
— to move with irregular motions
Bulgarian:
шавам
(šavam)
— to move with irregular motions
Bulgarian:
въртя се
(vǎrtja se)
— to move with irregular motions
Choctaw:
ilhkoli
— to move with irregular motions
Danish:
vrikke
— to move with irregular motions
Dutch:
wiebelen
— to move with irregular motions
Esperanto:
svingeti
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
tytistä
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
hytistä
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
tutista
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
hytkyä
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
hyllyä
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
hytisyttää
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
tutisuttaa
— to move with irregular motions
Finnish:
hytkyttää
— to move with irregular motions
French:
frétiller
— to move with irregular motions
French:
se tortiller
— to move with irregular motions
Galician:
abanear
— to move with irregular motions
Georgian:
ქნევა
(kneva)
— to move with irregular motions
Georgian:
ქიცინი
(kicini)
— to move with irregular motions
German:
schlängeln
— to move with irregular motions
German:
schwänzeln
— to move with irregular motions
German:
wackeln
— to move with irregular motions
German:
hin und her wackeln
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
ficánkol
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
ring
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
ringatózik
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
hullámzik
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
riszál
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
csóvál
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
mozgat
— to move with irregular motions
Hungarian:
ringat
— to move with irregular motions
Māori:
pīonioni
— to move with irregular motions
Norwegian:
vrikke
— to move with irregular motions
Portuguese:
rebolar
— to move with irregular motions
Portuguese:
sacolejar
— to move with irregular motions
Russian:
покачивать
(pokačivatʹ)
— to move with irregular motions
Russian:
раскачиваться
(raskačivatʹsja)
— to move with irregular motions
Spanish:
menear
— to move with irregular motions
Spanish:
contonear
— to move with irregular motions
