dribbled; dribbling
ˈdri-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to issue sporadically and in small bits
2
: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little
3
a
: to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick
dribble a basketball
dribble a puck
b
: to hit (a ball) without much force so that it bounces slowly along the ground
1
: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle
2
: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool
3
: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion
4
1
: a tiny or insignificant bit or quantity
2
: a small trickling stream or flow
3
: an act, instance, or manner of dribbling a ball or puck
Examples of dribble in a Sentence
Verb
Juice dribbled down his chin.
She accidentally dribbled wine onto the rug.
Dribble olive oil over the warm bread before serving.
She dribbled across the basketball court.
He skillfully dribbled the soccer ball towards the goal.
Noun
He wiped a dribble of juice from the corner of the baby's mouth.
She gave the ball a dribble before passing it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Pickett’s through ball found Banda free in space, who then dribbled into the box and fired off a shot that deflected off two defenders before nestling in the back of the net.
—Compiled From Wire Reports, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
There were times in which the Wolves were short handed this season that Reid was able to flash his ability to have an offense run through him and even create off the dribble.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Alessandro Bastoni #95 of FC Internazionale Milano dribbles through German Pezzella #6 of CA River Plate during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at...
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Pickett’s through ball found Banda free in space, who then dribbled into the box and fired off a shot that deflected off two defenders before nestling in the back of the net.
—Compiled From Wire Reports, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Noun
The McDonald’s All-American operates smoothly in the pick-and-roll with the ability to attack defenders off the dribble and from 3-point range.
—Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
There were times in which the Wolves were short handed this season that Reid was able to flash his ability to have an offense run through him and even create off the dribble.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
Cite this Entry
“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dribble
2 of 2 noun1
: a small trickling flow
2
: an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck
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