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
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
Martinez managed to dribble through or fake out five Charlotte players on the way to a point-blank shot from the center of the box.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
During his basketball era, the Hall of Fame small forward dominated both ends of the court, effectively guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player while also creating his own shot off the dribble or initiating actions on the other end.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Dudinha opened the scoring for San Diego, dribbling through the Current defense before blazing a shot through the legs of her Brazilian compatriot, Lorena.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
Martinez managed to dribble through or fake out five Charlotte players on the way to a point-blank shot from the center of the box.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Mazlish watched as his wife programmed her insulin pump to deliver both dribbles of basal insulin throughout the day and a large bolus with meals.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
During his basketball era, the Hall of Fame small forward dominated both ends of the court, effectively guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player while also creating his own shot off the dribble or initiating actions on the other end.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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