dribbled; dribbling
ˈdri-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to issue sporadically and in small bits
2
: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little
3
a
: to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick
dribble a basketball
dribble a puck
b
: to hit (a ball) without much force so that it bounces slowly along the ground
1
: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle
2
: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool
3
: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion
4
1
: a tiny or insignificant bit or quantity
2
: a small trickling stream or flow
3
: an act, instance, or manner of dribbling a ball or puck
drib·bler
-b(ə)lə(r)
plural -s
1
: one that dribbles
damned dribbler … you need a bib—
C. S. Barry
C. S. Barrya violation for a dribbler to step on or outside a boundary line
2
: a worker who removes dribble after molten glass has been poured
Examples of dribble in a Sentence
Verb
Juice dribbled down his chin.
She accidentally dribbled wine onto the rug.
Dribble olive oil over the warm bread before serving.
She dribbled across the basketball court.
He skillfully dribbled the soccer ball towards the goal.
Noun (1)
He wiped a dribble of juice from the corner of the baby's mouth.
She gave the ball a dribble before passing it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Feinting to take the ball with the inside of his right foot, Thiago would change direction at the last minute, pivoting with the outside of the boot and dribbling off into the distance.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 June 2026
For example, during his dominant, 18-point first quarter in the Spurs’ Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, on one play Wembanyama hit a combo of hesitation dribbles into a crossover into a spinning layup over Rudy Gobert.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Olwan crossed midfield all alone, caught up to Noor Alrawabdeh’s long pass, dribbled down the left wing, breached the penalty box, cut past defender Philipp Leinhart, then, from some 15 yards, curled a shot that kissed off the inside of the right post.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Feinting to take the ball with the inside of his right foot, Thiago would change direction at the last minute, pivoting with the outside of the boot and dribbling off into the distance.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Noun
Two dribbles to get to his spot, rather than continuing to work in a crowd for a better shot that doesn’t exist.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 June 2026
For example, during his dominant, 18-point first quarter in the Spurs’ Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, on one play Wembanyama hit a combo of hesitation dribbles into a crossover into a spinning layup over Rudy Gobert.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dribble
Cite this Entry
“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dribble
2 of 2 noun1
: a small trickling flow
2
: an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck
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