nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈne-səl How to pronounce nestle (audio)
nestled; nestling ˈne-s(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce nestle (audio)
Synonyms of nestlenext

intransitive verb

1
archaic : nest sense 1
2
: to settle snugly or comfortably
3
: to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner

transitive verb

1
: to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest
… the children were nestled all snug in their beds …Clement Moore
2
: to press closely and affectionately
nestles a kitten in her arms
nestler noun

Examples of nestle in a Sentence

He nestled his head against his mother's shoulder. She carefully nestled the hamster into its cage. The fly ball nestled into the outfielder's glove.
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.
Eggplant appears with linguine, tomato and almond pesto, or nestled with capers and golden raisins between ribbons of mafaldine. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 11 Feb. 2026 But this community of musicians on Ocean Avenue sprung up less by design and more as a byproduct of affordable housing shrinking to an ever-smaller pool of neighborhoods, among them Midwood, a middle-class residential area in south-central Brooklyn nestled between Marine Park and Bensonhurst. Daniel Yadin, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026 Schoen, owner of the Paradise River Bend wedding venue and vacation rental property, often visits what was once a pristine retreat across the road from his cabins, surrounded by trees and nestled along the usually tranquil Guadalupe River. Abrielle Kate Maddison, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 An orange hue illuminated an otherwise dark stage nestled in a CBS lot in Studio City. Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nestle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English nestlian, from nest

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nestle was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nestle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nestle. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

nestle

verb
nes·​tle ˈnes-əl How to pronounce nestle (audio)
nestled; nestling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce nestle (audio)
1
: to lie close and snug : cuddle
2
: to settle as if in a nest
nestler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on nestle

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