twiddle

UK: /ˈtwɪd^əl/ US: /ˈtwɪdəl/ ,(twid′l)

Inflections of 'twiddle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

twiddles

v 3rd person singular

twiddling

v pres p

twiddled

v past

twiddled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

twid•dle /ˈtwɪdəl/   v., -dled, -dling, n. 
v. 

1. to play with idly, esp. with the fingers;
   twirl: [~ + object]
   to sit and twiddle his thumbs.
   [no object]
   Quit twiddling.

n. [countable]

2. the act of twiddling;
   turn;
   twirl.

Idioms

3. Idioms twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing;
   be idle:
   The administration sits there twiddling its thumbs.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

twid•dle  (twid′l), v., -dled, -dling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers;
   twirl.

v.i. 

2. to play or trifle idly with something;
   fiddle.
3. to turn about lightly;
   twirl.
4. twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing;
   be idle:
   Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.

n. 

5. the act of twiddling;
   turn;
   twirl.

• perh. blend of, blended twitch and fiddle 1530–40

twid′dler, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

twiddle / ˈtwɪd^əl/ verb

1. when intr, often followed by with: to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
2. to do nothing; be unoccupied
3. (intransitive) to turn, twirl, or rotate
4. (intransitive) to be occupied with trifles

noun

1. an act or instance of twiddling

Etymology: 16th Century: probably a blend of twirl + fiddle

ˈtwiddler noun