curled; curling; curls
1
: to form into coils or ringlets
curl one's hair
2
: to form into a curved shape : twist
curled his lip in a sneer
3
: to furnish with curls
1
: a lock of hair that coils : ringlet
2
: something having a spiral or winding form : coil
4
: a curved or spiral marking in the grain of wood
5
: a hollow arch of water formed when the crest of a breaking wave spills forward
6
: a usually short pass pattern in football in which a receiver runs downfield and then curves back toward the line of scrimmage
7
: a body-building exercise in which a weight held with the palms facing up is raised and lowered by flexing only the wrists or elbows
Synonyms
Examples of curl in a Sentence
Verb
She curls her hair every morning.
Can you curl your tongue?
The baby's fingers were tightly curled.
The snake curled itself around its prey.
The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.
We saw smoke curling from the cottage chimney.
A snake curled around his leg.
Noun
Her daughter has cute blonde curls.
She likes to wear her hair in curls.
The conditioner will help you keep the curl of your hair.
His hair has a natural curl.
He did 12 wrist curls.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
Next to the river was a tree, and someone had noticed a mottled python curled around one of its branches.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This unique blend includes tomato ferment too, which helps support curl formation with its vitamin-rich content.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
If curling your hair isn't your styling strong suit, try using Beachwaver's TikTok-viral rotating curling iron, which takes the guesswork out of curling.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Once butter has melted and begins to foam, add shrimp and cook, tossing occasionally, until the flesh is pink and the shrimp have just begun to curl, about 3 minutes.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
Its north landing curled around the site of the former Sparrows Point steel complex, once the largest refinery in the world and a key World War II shipyard.
—Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Hawkins curled off the screens while Butler weaved through them behind him.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
In the picture, the mother of four curled her daughter's hair as her youngest son, Denver Calloway, who was born on Feb. 9, sat in the background.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead of her usual long blonde curls, Hilton wore her hair in a sleek ponytail, with one long face-framing piece to the side.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2024
Mary’s mouth curls into a smile, which then quickly fades.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Palmer, who recently won an Emmy Award for her work on the game show, looked every bit the iconic host in voluminous spiral curls that just brushed her shoulders, plus curly bangs to match.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Apr. 2024
Aloe vera will also help hydrate those curls so your manly curls can bounce back to the perfect curl in no time!
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Scientists anticipate that exciting features resembling loops, streamers and bright curls will be visible in the sun’s hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona, when the moon blocks the star’s surface from view during the upcoming eclipse.
—Cnn Com Wire Service, Orange County Register, 2 Apr. 2024
Back inside the studio, Richardson flops onto the sofa in her dressing room after an intense block of filming, a mass of white curls still piled up on her head.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
Plus, these potent plant extracts help define curls, moisturize the scalp, seal split ends, and help retain length.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
When performing curls for your biceps, for example, exhale while curling the weight up from your thighs to your chin (the high exertion phase), then inhale on the way down.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
Next to the river was a tree, and someone had noticed a mottled python curled around one of its branches.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This unique blend includes tomato ferment too, which helps support curl formation with its vitamin-rich content.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
If curling your hair isn't your styling strong suit, try using Beachwaver's TikTok-viral rotating curling iron, which takes the guesswork out of curling.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Once butter has melted and begins to foam, add shrimp and cook, tossing occasionally, until the flesh is pink and the shrimp have just begun to curl, about 3 minutes.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
Its north landing curled around the site of the former Sparrows Point steel complex, once the largest refinery in the world and a key World War II shipyard.
—Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Hawkins curled off the screens while Butler weaved through them behind him.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
In the picture, the mother of four curled her daughter's hair as her youngest son, Denver Calloway, who was born on Feb. 9, sat in the background.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Actress Kerry Washington wearing a strapless black cutout gown at the 68th Emmy Awards in 2016 with her curls out was a maternity-style moment that still lives in our minds.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead of her usual long blonde curls, Hilton wore her hair in a sleek ponytail, with one long face-framing piece to the side.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2024
Mary’s mouth curls into a smile, which then quickly fades.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Palmer, who recently won an Emmy Award for her work on the game show, looked every bit the iconic host in voluminous spiral curls that just brushed her shoulders, plus curly bangs to match.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Apr. 2024
Aloe vera will also help hydrate those curls so your manly curls can bounce back to the perfect curl in no time!
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Scientists anticipate that exciting features resembling loops, streamers and bright curls will be visible in the sun’s hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona, when the moon blocks the star’s surface from view during the upcoming eclipse.
—Cnn Com Wire Service, Orange County Register, 2 Apr. 2024
Back inside the studio, Richardson flops onto the sofa in her dressing room after an intense block of filming, a mass of white curls still piled up on her head.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
Plus, these potent plant extracts help define curls, moisturize the scalp, seal split ends, and help retain length.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from crul curly, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German krol curly
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of curl was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing curl
Dictionary Entries Near curl
Cite this Entry
“Curl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curl. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
curl
1 of 2 verb1
: to form into or grow in coils or ringlets
curled her hair
2
: to take or move in a curved form
smoke curling from the chimney
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on curl
Nglish: Translation of curl for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of curl for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curl
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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