fiddle

1 of 2

noun

fid·​dle ˈfi-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
Synonyms of fiddle
1
: violin
2
: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship
3
: fiddlesticks
—used as an interjection
4
[fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio) ˈfid-liŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker
fiddled around with the engine for hours
c
: meddle, tamper
d
: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something
fiddled with the thermostat

transitive verb

1
: to play (something) on a fiddle
fiddle a tune
2
: cheat, swindle
3
: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain
… accountants fiddling the books.—Stanley Cohen
fiddler
ˈfi-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
ˈfid-lər
noun

Synonyms of fiddle

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of fiddle in a Sentence

Noun an expert with the fiddle arrested for a tax fiddle Verb Nero fiddled while Rome burned. the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That song is screaming for a fiddle and a banjo. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026 Ficus plants, such as fiddle-leaf figs, rubber trees, and weeping figs, are among the most popular houseplants. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
Verb
Four top bluegrass bands will perform, and there will be fiddling demonstrations. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2026 Hinges There is a good chance your baby will often fiddle around with their sunglasses. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fiddle

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English *fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere "fiddler"), going back to Germanic *fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin

Note: See note at viol.

Verb

Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiddle was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing fiddle

Rhymes for fiddle

See All Rhymes for fiddle

Browse Nearby Words

fidaʽi
fiddle
fiddle about
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fiddle

2 of 2 verb
fiddled; fiddling
ˈfid-liŋ, 
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless activity
c
: meddle, tamper
fiddler
ˈfid-lər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fiddle

Nglish: Translation of fiddle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fiddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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