dabble

verb

dab·​ble ˈda-bəl How to pronounce dabble (audio)
dabbled; dabbling ˈda-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce dabble (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest
dabbles in art
2
a
: to paddle, splash, or play in or as if in water
b
: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water in order to obtain food

transitive verb

: to wet by splashing or by little dips or strokes : spatter

Examples of dabble in a Sentence

The ducks dabbled in the stream. She sat by the pool, dabbling her feet in the cool water.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Confalonieri also played tennis before dating Musetti While Musetti is the tennis professional between the two of them, Confalonieri has also dabbled in the sport. Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 June 2025 Wallen is reaching the same crossroads his bro-country predecessors Florida Georgia Line faced a few albums in when, likely sick of complaints about dabbling in R&B, the duo made a folkier push. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 20 May 2025 Ateliers Horizons has dabbled in sound before, developing a first jukebox in 2019, as well as a boombox housing a vertical turntable. Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 May 2025 Given Lewis Hamilton has also dabbled in the music industry under the pseudonym XNDA and, in 2018, collaborated with Christina Aguilera, the question is whether the Ferrari teammates will compose a piece together? Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dabble

Word History

Etymology

perhaps frequentative of dab entry 2

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dabble was in 1557

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dabble. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

dabble

verb
dab·​ble ˈdab-əl How to pronounce dabble (audio)
dabbled; dabbling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce dabble (audio)
1
: to wet by splashing : spatter
2
a
: to paddle or play in or as if in water
b
: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water to obtain food
ducks dabbled in the pond
3
: to work or concern oneself lightly or without deep involvement
they dabble in poetry
dabbler
-(ə-)lər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dabble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!