1
: a very small pool of usually dirty or muddy water
2
a
: an earthy mixture (as of clay, sand, and gravel) worked while wet into a compact mass that becomes impervious to water when dry
b
: a thin mixture of soil and water for puddling plants
puddled; puddling
ˈpəd-liŋ 
ˈpə-dᵊl-iŋ
: to dabble or wade around in a puddle
1
: to make muddy or turbid : muddle
2
a
: to work (a wet mixture of earth or concrete) into a dense impervious mass
b
: to subject (iron) to the process of puddling
3
a
: to strew with puddles
b
: to compact (soil) especially by working when too wet
c
: to dip the roots of (a plant) in a thin mud before transplanting
Examples of puddle in a Sentence
Noun
She accidentally stepped in a puddle and got her shoes wet.
After the storm, the road was covered in deep puddles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
The wooden floor of the home studio her husband built, still bears scars of her work — a rainbow of splotches, puddles and dribbles of misplaced paint.
—Tim Botos, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Sallie Tisdale, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
Provide water sources: Offer shallow dishes with water or create a small puddling area with damp soil.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puddle
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.
Noun
If water was on outside, there would have been clear signs, such as puddles, mud or damage, and everything was fine.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
The wooden floor of the home studio her husband built, still bears scars of her work — a rainbow of splotches, puddles and dribbles of misplaced paint.
—Tim Botos, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
The surface tension of elemental mercury is so high that the liquid beads up rather than puddling and doesn’t cling to much of anything, ceaselessly vacuuming into itself.
—Sallie Tisdale, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
Provide water sources: Offer shallow dishes with water or create a small puddling area with damp soil.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puddle
Cite this Entry
“Puddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puddle. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share