twiddle

1 of 2

verb

twid·dle ˈtwi-dᵊl How to pronounce twiddle (audio)

twiddled; twiddling ˈtwid-liŋ How to pronounce twiddle (audio)

ˈtwi-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to play negligently with something : fiddle

: to turn or jounce lightly

twiddles round and round in the water

J. B. S. Haldane

transitive verb

: to rotate lightly or idly

twiddled his pen

Phrases

twiddle one's thumbs

: to spend time idly : do nothing

Synonyms

Verb

diddle (with)
fiddle (with)
fool (with)
mess (with)
monkey (with)
play (with)
tamper (with)
tinker (with)
toy (with)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Verb Just twiddle the dial on the radio a bit for better reception. Twiddle the knob on the telescope until things are in focus. She twiddled her pen while she talked on the phone. She twiddled with her pen while she talked on the phone.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

No wonder Elon Musk has the time to twiddle his thumbs on Twitter.

Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2022 What if the Suns make a big move, while the Warriors twiddle their thumbs?

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Feb. 2022 On a humid, rainy afternoon, Susan had demonstrated how to dig a hole for my tomato plant and twiddle it with my fingers so that the roots would crumble.

BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2021 Clayster, with nothing to do but twiddle his Call of Duty thumbs, decides to do a domination art project on the A Flag on Hackney Yard.

Sean Collins, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2020 The perception among some people that DNR employees twiddle their thumbs all day isn’t the case.

Star Tribune, 29 Aug. 2020 The pipeline development analysts cannot afford to sit twiddling their thumbs.

Eric M. Stone, STAT, 5 June 2020 While athletes all over the world are twiddling their thumbs, she's been rushed off her feet trying to help them get through a period of relentless uncertainty.

Don Riddell, CNN, 22 Apr. 2020 Stylistically, the president himself seemed ill at ease in the formal setting, offering a monotone and labored delivery from behind the Resolute Desk, twiddling his thumbs and even, in moments, struggling to read words on the teleprompter.

Author: Philip Rucker, Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Mar. 2020

Noun

Crucially, in the new scheme, all inputs and outputs between simulations of different scales must be consistent, leaving fewer dials to twiddle.

Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 23 Aug. 2022 Pilots sit behind a modern avionic dashboard and twiddle control sticks to direct advanced, swiveling engines.

Andrew Van Dam, chicagotribune.com, 12 June 2018 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1774, in the meaning defined above

单词	twiddle
释义	twiddle 1 of 2 verb twid·dle ˈtwi-dᵊl twiddled; twiddling ˈtwid-liŋ ˈtwi-dᵊl-iŋ intransitive verb 1 : to play negligently with something : fiddle 2 : to turn or jounce lightly twiddles round and round in the water J. B. S. Haldane transitive verb : to rotate lightly or idly twiddled his pen twiddle 2 of 2 noun : turn, twist Phrases twiddle one's thumbs : to spend time idly : do nothing Synonyms Verb diddle (with) fiddle (with) fool (with) mess (with) monkey (with) play (with) tamper (with) tinker (with) toy (with) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb Just twiddle the dial on the radio a bit for better reception. Twiddle the knob on the telescope until things are in focus. She twiddled her pen while she talked on the phone. She twiddled with her pen while she talked on the phone. Recent Examples on the Web Verb No wonder Elon Musk has the time to twiddle his thumbs on Twitter. Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2022 What if the Suns make a big move, while the Warriors twiddle their thumbs? Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Feb. 2022 On a humid, rainy afternoon, Susan had demonstrated how to dig a hole for my tomato plant and twiddle it with my fingers so that the roots would crumble. BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2021 Clayster, with nothing to do but twiddle his Call of Duty thumbs, decides to do a domination art project on the A Flag on Hackney Yard. Sean Collins, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2020 The perception among some people that DNR employees twiddle their thumbs all day isn’t the case. Star Tribune, 29 Aug. 2020 The pipeline development analysts cannot afford to sit twiddling their thumbs. Eric M. Stone, STAT, 5 June 2020 While athletes all over the world are twiddling their thumbs, she's been rushed off her feet trying to help them get through a period of relentless uncertainty. Don Riddell, CNN, 22 Apr. 2020 Stylistically, the president himself seemed ill at ease in the formal setting, offering a monotone and labored delivery from behind the Resolute Desk, twiddling his thumbs and even, in moments, struggling to read words on the teleprompter. Author: Philip Rucker, Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Mar. 2020 Noun Crucially, in the new scheme, all inputs and outputs between simulations of different scales must be consistent, leaving fewer dials to twiddle. Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 23 Aug. 2022 Pilots sit behind a modern avionic dashboard and twiddle control sticks to direct advanced, swiveling engines. Andrew Van Dam, chicagotribune.com, 12 June 2018 See More Word History Etymology Verb origin unknown First Known Use Verb circa 1540, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun 1774, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing twiddle twiddle one's thumbs twiddle one's thumbs Kids Definition twiddle verb twid·dle ˈtwi-dᵊl twiddled; twiddling : twirl entry 1 I twiddled my thumbs. twiddle verb as in to spin Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance spin rotate twirl swivel swirl pivot turn crank wheel twist screw swing roll whirl revolve wind coil reel unscrew circulate
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twiddle

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing twiddle

Kids Definition

verb

verb