chuckling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "chuckling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the sound of someone laughing. For example, "She could hear her father chuckling in the other room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No longer chuckling at his politically incorrect jokes, they turned on him for being a hypocrite, for saying one thing and doing another – for breaking his promise.

The Guardian - Opinion

"When I played the first line, the audience started chuckling.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I was from Boreham Wood, so you either supported Tottenham or Arsenal... and I just supported football, can I say that?" Sherwood says, chuckling.

The Guardian - Sport

"WE ARE facing our own extinction," the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, warns an audience of 450 of his compatriots, before cheering them up with his habitual, chuckling, hopefulness.

The Economist

Some CSR advocates are cynics: they pay lip service to the idea but are chuckling quietly.

The Economist

You can almost hear his lawyer (kindly paid for by Home Depot) chuckling to himself.There is no particular reason to pick on Mr Nardelli, although his GE provenance does suggest an interesting pattern.

The Economist

No wonder its enemies, in Baghdad and elsewhere, are chuckling.

The Economist

Opposition lawmakers are blasé: two whom I interviewed could hardly stop chuckling at Mr Kan's predicament.

The Economist

"But of course it's very difficult to get a scoop right…not that it was perhaps the most exciting scoop ever broken—I mean, 'new bridge in Turkey!'" He sits back, chuckling, lapping it up.That incident was an augury of Mr Johnson's brilliant career.

The Economist

This poses a problem for Labour and the Conservatives: should they go on the attack and risk giving the Lib Dems free publicity, or should they just ignore them?So far, the big two are repeating their tactic of chuckling whenever the Lib Dems are mentioned, then rubbishing them with the air of a champion weightlifter asked to stand next to someone who stacks supermarket shelves for a living.

The Economist

AMERICANS are still chuckling about the "pants suit".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overusing "chuckling" in descriptive writing. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "chortling" or "laughing softly" to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "chuckling" to describe loud or boisterous laughter. This word specifically refers to a quiet, subdued form of laughing. For more intense laughter, consider using words like "guffawing" or "roaring".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "chuckling" is as a present participle or gerund form of the verb "chuckle". It functions as a verb when describing an action in progress (e.g., "He was chuckling") and as a noun when referring to the act of chuckling itself (e.g., "There was a faint chuckling"). According to Ludwig AI, this word is appropriate in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chuckling" is a versatile term used to describe a quiet form of laughter, often indicative of amusement or gentle humor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, "chuckling" maintains a neutral register, fitting for a wide range of descriptive and narrative purposes. When choosing alternative phrases, consider the nuances of words like "chortling" or "laughing softly" to best convey the intended tone. Be mindful to avoid using it when depicting loud, boisterous laughter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chortling

Suggests a more gleeful and hearty form of chuckling.

laughing softly

A more descriptive way of saying "chuckling", focusing on the quiet nature of the laugh.

giggling

Implies a more lighthearted and often childish form of laughter compared to "chuckling".

snickering

Implies a suppressed and often disrespectful or secretive laugh.

smirking

Suggests a sly or self-satisfied amusement, rather than a purely joyful one.

tittering

Suggests a nervous or restrained laugh, often high-pitched.

simpering

Implies a silly or affected smile, sometimes with a hint of self-consciousness.

expressing amusement

A general term for showing enjoyment or pleasure, which might or might not involve laughter.

snorting with laughter

Indicates a more forceful and less controlled form of laughter.

guffawing

Represents a loud and boisterous laugh, the opposite of "chuckling".

FAQs

How can I use "chuckling" in a sentence?

You can use "chuckling" to describe someone laughing quietly or to describe a sound suggestive of subdued laughter. For example, "He was "chuckling" to himself as he read the comic strip."

What are some alternatives to "chuckling"?

You can use alternatives like "chortling", "laughing softly", or "giggling", depending on the context and the intensity of the laughter.

Is "chuckling" formal or informal?

"Chuckling" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal writing might benefit from using a more descriptive alternative like "laughing quietly".

What's the difference between "chuckling" and "snickering"?

"Chuckling" implies amusement or gentle humor, while "snickering" often suggests a suppressed, and sometimes malicious, laugh. The context in which these words are used significantly impacts their connotations.