1Hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection.

1. 1.1no object, with adverbial Lie or sit close.
   ‘Rebecca cuddled up to Mum’
   More example sentences

   • ‘they cuddled together to keep out the cold’
   • ‘Here, in a different hemisphere, the acrid smell of firework smoke makes me think of cold nights, short days, cuddling up inside next to the heater.’
   • ‘Nothing is cozier than cuddling up in front of a fire with some popcorn.’
   • ‘The setting is conducive to cuddling up in the soft cushions and really making yourself at home.’
   • ‘Tyler turned his beautiful face to look over at Jane, who was not paying attention and turning the TV on, cuddling up with a pillow.’
   • ‘Aimee mumbled to herself about getting a lock for her door and pulled the comforter to her bed, cuddling up under it so that she could get back to sleep.’
   • ‘It was very warm indeed under the coats with the young elf cuddling up against him.’
   • ‘When I came back to my room, I found Mandy and Lee cuddling up on the mattress.’
   • ‘Diana was cuddling up with Braxton, who had first turned a nice shade of pink when Diana sat very close next to him.’
   • ‘Eva's cuddling up against Jared as he absently puts his arm around her waist.’
   • ‘I laughed, cuddling up next to him, wishing every inch of me could be even closer.’
   • ‘Quite oblivious to their presence was a pair of coyotes cuddled close together on the sand next to the cliff.’
   • ‘Willow woke up early, so we cuddled together on the sofa and watched Peter Pan.’
   • ‘I have a lovely picture of Natasha and her cat cuddled up together.’
   • ‘I just thought it was really cute that they would cuddle together like a happy little couple.’
   • ‘She smiled at the fond feeling of his mind and cuddled in a little closer to him.’
   • ‘James then hung up, smiling to himself as he cuddled up closer to Cheryl on the sofa.’
   • ‘A grunt reached Kyle's ears, and he turned back, finding Josie cuddling closer to him, a satisfied smile on her face.’
   • ‘Jared cuddles closer, crushing his face against my neck, and mutters, ‘Thank you.’’
   • ‘Grace cuddled closer into his strong chest, and he held her tighter.’
   • ‘Unicorn was cuddled affectionately against Kyri's wet face when she awoke with a start.’
2. 1.2cuddle up toinformal no object Ingratiate oneself with.
   More example sentences

   • ‘they start cuddling up to the Liberals for support’
   • ‘The Maharishi Foundation is the outfit that seeks to promote Transcendental Meditation, the practice once associated with the hairy old Indian guru that the Beatles cuddled up to in the 1960s.’
   • ‘Nestlé's attempt to cuddle up to cat lovers goes hand in hand with its attempts to appear as an ethically driven company in other areas.’
   • ‘But after getting sweaty with punk rock, intimate with sonic terrorism and cuddling up to a retro surf sound, the trio have decided it's time to settle down.’
   • ‘As pressure on the party intensifies, it increasingly cuddles up to politically reactionary forces both at home and abroad.’
   • ‘Under pressure, and in an attempt to cuddle up to this group in an election year, this was added at the last minute with none of the usual debate or consultation.’
   • ‘There may be disagreements about details, but they all want more private firms seizing parts of public services, and they all believe in ‘flexible labour’, cuddling up to business and holding down wages.’
   • ‘But he lost because he is associated with the ‘pro-partnership’ agenda of working with the management and of cuddling up to New Labour over the war against Iraq and much else.’
   • ‘Sam is famous for cuddling up to favoured hacks with a stream of tips.’
   • ‘From the Russian perspective, cuddling up to Beijing has more to do with Russia's frosty relations with the West than the chill of the Russian winter.’
   • ‘Singapore then started cuddling up to Air New Zealand, while keeping an eye on Ansett, in which Air New Zealand was building an interest.’
   • ‘When it comes to cuddling up to the Americans, they pretty much stand alone.’
   • ‘Blair has spent a year cuddling up to Silvio Berlusconi, the media baron and Italian prime minister.’
   • ‘For the last few months, he has been cuddling up to Sun foes such as HP and Dell.’
   • ‘France cuddles up to Germany for decades on end, and rarely loses an opportunity to spite America.’
   • ‘He cuddled up to his colleagues, begging for approval - he was obsequious, smart, slippery.’
   • ‘The Mafia has never had problems about who is in power; it has always tried to cuddle up to those in charge because they are the ones who control the purse strings of public financing.’
   • ‘The major parties in Tasmania always cuddle up to big business.’
   • ‘Incompetent ministers cuddle up to their leaders, and lo and behold, they get back in on the list.’
   • ‘One thing may be said with certainty of them, and that is they are not keen to cuddle up to Bulgaria's established political elite.’
   Synonyms

   nestle, curl up, huddle, huddle up, cuddle up, cuddle up to, nuzzle, nuzzle up to, settle, ensconce oneself, lie close to

   View synonyms

A prolonged and affectionate hug.