bobble

1 of 2

verb

bob·​ble ˈbä-bəl How to pronounce bobble (audio)
bobbled; bobbling ˈbä-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce bobble (audio)
Synonyms of bobblenext

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

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
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.
Verb
Pat bobbled the snap and a 235-pound linebacker from Bridgeport fell on the ball. Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026 Mara also doesn’t have great hands around the rim and has a penchant for bobbling the ball instead of catching it immediately. Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Kings, who had a 5-3 advantage in shots in the first, got the first excellent chance of the game when dangerous goal scorer Adrian Kempe took advantage of a bobble at the LA blue line. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026 But the experience includes a few bobbles—call them growing pains. Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bobble

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bobble was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bobble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bobble. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

bobble

verb
bob·​ble
ˈbäb-əl
bobbled; bobbling
ˈbäb-(ə-)liŋ
1
2
: to handle in a clumsy or unsure way : fumble
bobble noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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