bobble

1 of 2

verb

bob·​ble ˈbä-bəl 

bobbled; bobbling ˈbä-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: bob entry 1

2

: fumble

bobble

2 of 2

noun

1

: a repeated bobbing movement

2

: a small ball of fabric

especially : one in a series used on an edging

3

: error, mistake

especially : a mishandling of the ball in baseball or football

Synonyms

Verb

• fumble
• blow

Noun

• mistake
• blunder
• error
• fumble

Examples of bobble in a Sentence

Verb

The catcher bobbled the ball.

the first baseman bobbled the catch, so the runner was safe

Noun

a bobble that cost them the game

The curtains have a series of bobbles along the edge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

It was bobbled off the post and cleared back out to the corner of the box for Rodriguez. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025

Running back Junior Curtis bobbled the opening kickoff, scooped it up at the 14, veered left, avoided would-be tacklers, hit the sideline and sped his way 86 yards to a touchdown. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025

Noun

Yastremska decorated her Yonex bag with cute furry bobbles and ribbons in Ukrainian flag colors. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025

During the Monday, June 16, episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the actress and producer, 61, appeared in a black Stella McCartney suit covered with 3D metallic bobbles. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of bob entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bobble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• squabble
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

bobble

verb

bob·​ble

ˈbäb-əl

bobbled; bobbling

ˈbäb-(ə-)liŋ

1

: bob entry 1 sense 1a

2

: to handle in a clumsy or unsure way : fumble

bobble noun