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 of bobble

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

Njoku bobbled the pass, however, and the ball was grabbed by rookie safety Hezekiah Masses, who had another pick in the fourth quarter during his first career start. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Even when ostensibly abstract, De Kooning’s work was populated by bobbling fragments of body parts. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026

Noun

Meanwhile, the Dodgers added two more insurance runs in the fifth with a solo homer from Ohtani, a double from Pages and a couple of defensive bobbles by the Rockies. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Others secured the football, either cleanly or after a brief bobble. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

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