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
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The 5-f6 senior dribbled into the post before turning baseline and finishing at the rim against two taller SGP defenders to give Allen a 44-43 edge with less than a minute to play.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
UConn’s defense was a bit shaky to start as Tyler Perkins scored Villanova’s first eight points off the dribble with ease and the Wildcats combined to make nine of their first 16 shots.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Soon after, other social media snippets of their presence in the Queen City dribbled out.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The 5-f6 senior dribbled into the post before turning baseline and finishing at the rim against two taller SGP defenders to give Allen a 44-43 edge with less than a minute to play.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Within about 30 seconds, junior Teagan Jahns gathered the ball above the penalty arc and took a few dribbles before drilling another shot past goalkeeper Anna Bellan.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
UConn’s defense was a bit shaky to start as Tyler Perkins scored Villanova’s first eight points off the dribble with ease and the Wildcats combined to make nine of their first 16 shots.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dribble
Cite this Entry
“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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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