nibble

1 of 2

verb

nib·​ble ˈni-bəl How to pronounce nibble (audio)
nibbled; nibbling ˈni-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce nibble (audio)
Synonyms of nibblenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to bite gently
b
: to eat or chew in small bits
2
: to take away bit by bit
waves nibbling the shore

intransitive verb

1
: to take gentle, small, or cautious bites
also : snack
2
: to deal with something as if by nibbling
nibbler noun

nibbler

2 of 2

noun

nib·​bler -b(ə)lə(r) How to pronounce nibbler (audio)
plural -s
: one that nibbles: such as
a
: cunner
b
or less commonly nibbling machine : a machine for cutting sheets or plates of metal by punching a succession of overlapping holes along the desired contour

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Verb We nibbled cheese and crackers. We nibbled on some cheese and crackers before dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Deer And Rabbit Damage Deer have a frustrating habit of nibbling the flowers off of hydrangeas. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 The Appetizer In addition to serving drinks, set out an appetizer for your guests to nibble on while waiting for dinner. Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026 To avoid your dog nibbling on dangerous plants altogether, take the following steps. Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 28 May 2026 Eight neighbors, including Pugliese, sit around the coffee table sipping wine and nibbling on cheese cubes and fish dip, a black cat named Aura circling their ankles. Jessica Blough, CNN Money, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for nibble

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of nibble was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nibble. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

nibble

verb
nib·​ble
ˈnib-əl
nibbled; nibbling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to bite or chew gently or bit by bit
nibble noun
nibbler
-(ə-)lər
noun

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