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

He's dabbled with method dressing, recreating Bob Dylan looks during the press tour for A Complete Unknown, and nearly broke the internet when coordinating with girlfriend Kylie Jenner. —Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

And this isn’t to say that Manhunt doesn’t dabble in deconstruction. —Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026

Recent Cub Sport records, including 2023’s Jesus at the Gay Bar, dabbled into soft-spoken dance music. —Reanna Cruz, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026

The star has dabbled in acting with a role in the Prime Video series Swarm. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026

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