dumbbell

noun

dumb·​bell ˈdəm-ˌbel How to pronounce dumbbell (audio)
1
: a short bar with weights at each end that is used usually in pairs for exercise
2
: a stupid person : dummy

Examples of dumbbell in a Sentence

I feel like a dumbbell for making such a stupid mistake. no, you're not a dumbbell—this is one of the hardest courses the school offers
Recent Examples on the Web After searching his backpack, police allegedly found three large garbage bags, a 20-pound dumbbell, and directions to the nearby Chatham Street Bridge over the Cal Sag Channel. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023 Plus, the neoprene coating makes the dumbbells easy to grip. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 11 Oct. 2023 There's a lot more to a competent arm training program than just camping out in front of the dumbbell rack and pumping out reps of biceps curls. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 29 Aug. 2023 That’s okay, the Session Tee can handle a short jog or a few dumbbell curls equally as well. Joe Niehaus, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023 What are some mistakes people make with the dumbbell deadlift? Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Nov. 2023 Archer Row Start standing with your left leg back, holding a kettlebell or dumbbell in your left hand. Mallory Creveling, Health, 11 Sep. 2023 Start by doing 10 to 12 reps of dumbbell or barbell skull crushers, focusing on the stretch at the bottom of each rep. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023 Using sandbags and dumbbells as controls, our testers then weighed themselves several times to see whether the scales produced precise, consistent readings. Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dumbbell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dumbbell was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near dumbbell

Cite this Entry

“Dumbbell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumbbell. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

dumbbell

noun
dumb·​bell ˈdəm-ˌbel How to pronounce dumbbell (audio)
1
: a bar with weights at the ends that is usually used for exercise or building strength
2
: a stupid person : dummy entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on dumbbell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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