What does waddled mean?
Waddled is the past tense and past participle of waddle, a verb describing movement in short, quick steps with a characteristic side-to-side motion. The image is strongly associated with ducks and geese, although the word can apply to people, animals, or objects that move in an awkward, unsteady manner. In neutral descriptions, “waddled” conveys an ungainly gait; in humorous contexts, it can make ordinary movement seem comically cumbersome. When used of a person, it may suggest that someone was walking slowly, reluctantly, or with difficulty, so the tone can range from affectionate to mildly teasing. The verb is common in British and American English and appears in both literal descriptions of movement and figurative language about progressing slowly or unsteadily.
verbWalked or moved with short, quick steps, typically with a side-to-side motion. The word can also describe movement that appears slow, awkward, or unsteady.
- Moved with short, quick, often side-to-side steps.
"The old duck waddled across the grass toward the pond."
"The ducklings waddled in a line behind their mother."
"She waddled into the café, apologizing for being late."
Ducks get credit for waddling; people usually get teased for it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does waddled come from?
Waddled is the past tense and past participle of waddle, whose deeper origin is uncertain. The word waddle is recorded in English by the late 16th century and developed its established meaning of moving with short, quick, side-to-side steps. It belongs to an English word family rather than deriving securely from a known classical or non-European source.
Related word forms
How waddled is actually used
The word is often playful or humorous when describing people, though it can be mildly disparaging when it implies an awkward or ungainly walk. It is also common in descriptions of ducks, geese, and other animals.