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)

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

nibble

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of nibbling
2
: a very small quantity or portion (as of food)
also : snack
3
: a tentative expression of interest

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Verb We nibbled cheese and crackers. We nibbled on some cheese and crackers before dinner. Noun He felt a nibble on his fishing line. They served some delicious nibbles before dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
My favorite place to enjoy them is Louis Cafe, where they’re tossed with parsley, onion, and red peppers—ideal for nibbling while people-watching and soaking up the live jazz that gives this new-school kafeneio, or café, its charm. Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025 In the legendary revelation scene, Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) passionately cling to each other, with Stu practically nibbling on Billy’s ear. Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
In one of her posts, Jenner even takes a nibble on her nails, which are long enough to just barely miss scratching her nose during the playful choreography. Marci Robin, Allure, 2 Oct. 2025 Ethan Ampadu, a former team-mate of Adams’ at RB Leipzig, tried to defuse the fracas, but Jayden Bogle came over for a nibble too, before Stach, back on his feet, fired a riposte at the American. Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 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

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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 13 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on nibble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!