dabble

verb

dab·​ble ˈda-bəl 

dabbled; dabbling ˈda-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest

dabbles in art

2

a

: to paddle, splash, or play in or as if in water

b

: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water in order to obtain food

transitive verb

: to wet by splashing or by little dips or strokes : spatter

Examples of dabble in a Sentence

The ducks dabbled in the stream.

She sat by the pool, dabbling her feet in the cool water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fellner had already dabbled in production having produced a slew of shorts as well as Danny Huston’s upcoming genre feature Snowshadow along with its companion doc series. —Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 14 May 2025

My father, who is 92, still makes puns constantly, and even my brother has dabbled in them. —Elana Rabinowitz, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

Means has also dabbled in poetry in her newsletter. —Alana Semuels, Time, 8 May 2025

Lowe claimed of his conversations with Paxton's spirit Paxton, an actor known for movies like Aliens and Twister, died suddenly at 61 in 2017 due to complications from surgery Rob Lowe has dabbled in meetings with mediums and psychics, and said he's found his late friend Bill Paxton in the process. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps frequentative of dab entry 2

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for dabble

• babble
• babel
• drabble
• gabble
• nabal
• rabble
• scrabble
• immeasurable

Kids Definition

dabble

verb

dab·​ble ˈdab-əl 

dabbled; dabbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to wet by splashing : spatter

2

a

: to paddle or play in or as if in water

b

: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water to obtain food

ducks dabbled in the pond

3

: to work or concern oneself lightly or without deep involvement

they dabble in poetry

dabbler

-(ə-)lər

noun