nibble

1 of 2

verb

nib·​ble ˈni-bəl How to pronounce nibble (audio)
nibbled; nibbling ˈni-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce nibble (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to bite gently
b
: to eat or chew in small bits
2
: to take away bit by bit
waves nibbling the shore

intransitive verb

1
: to take gentle, small, or cautious bites
also : snack
2
: to deal with something as if by nibbling
nibbler noun

nibble

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of nibbling
2
: a very small quantity or portion (as of food)
also : snack
3
: a tentative expression of interest

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Verb We nibbled cheese and crackers. We nibbled on some cheese and crackers before dinner. Noun He felt a nibble on his fishing line. They served some delicious nibbles before dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Meanwhile, eager onlookers pay $40 to ogle and nibble. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 His friend Justin Jackson, wearing a cowboy hat and nibbling on a toothpick, keeps checking his phone. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb. 2024 But for now, Temu seems more likely to nibble around the edges of Amazon’s U.S. e-commerce dominance rather than eat into its market share. Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 In other words — as the world sees this week — the GOP won’t stop Putin, who will feel free to nibble around Poland, the Baltics, the North Sea, the Arctic, East Asia, and the Middle East. Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2024 Kids love to grow and eat strawberries, to nibble on mint and parsley and to discover the caterpillars and other insects in the garden. Marty Ross, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024 There’s a painting in our house that someone gave my dad of a woman with her boobs out and a fish trying to nibble her nipple. Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2024 Many are able to nibble on the peanut paste and take sips of water, passing the test. Unicef Usa, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 My waiter was always glad to bring one, conveniently in a bag, to nibble on for the rest of the day. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Dec. 2023
Noun
Expect to get a nibble on your lululemons or a piece of your ponytail. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 So, pack a backpack filled with Champagne and nibbles (don’t forget the ring!), and head there for sunset for a memory-making moment. Laura Hampson, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 Knowing how to pitch a tent properly is critical to staying warm and dry and keeping our belongings away from animals who might want a nibble. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 13 Dec. 2023 Get The Recipe 20 of 50 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Everyone from the kids to the grandparents will be grabbing for these simple, but oh-so-yummy nibbles. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023 The classic spiked dessert hides out for hours before the merrymaking begins, soaking up rum in a secluded cabinet to safeguard it from those who'd like to take a nibble—or from that one relative who'd prefer to add an extra tipple when no one is watching. Nicola Blaque, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023 There's also a tray in the center for kid snacks, adult nibbles, candy, or non-food items, like a phone, sunglasses, or disinfectant wipes. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Little nibbles of cone, then one spin around her mouth. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 These treats are the perfect party nibble—good luck limiting yourself to just one. Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nibble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nibble was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near nibble

Cite this Entry

“Nibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nibble. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nibble

verb
nib·​ble
ˈnib-əl
nibbled; nibbling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to bite or chew gently or bit by bit
nibble noun
nibbler
-(ə-)lər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on nibble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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