stubble

noun

stub·​ble ˈstə-bəl 

often attributive

1

: the basal part of herbaceous plants and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the soil after harvest

2

: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble

especially : a short growth of beard

stubbled

ˈstə-bəld 

adjective

stubbly

ˈstə-b(ə-)lē 

adjective

Examples of stubble in a Sentence

He ran his hand over his stubble.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tej’s stubble comes in at the underside of his jaw. —Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025

The star also appeared to have a bit of stubble days after surprising fans by shaving his beard after more than a decade. —Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

The thousand-year-old, two-hundred-foot Douglas Fir stands in the midst of a vast clear-cut on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, a towering beanstalk surrounded by acres of cornfield stubble. —Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025

Government satellite data showed a rise in crop stubble fires, used by farmers to clear land before the next planting, since the start of November. —Reuters, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stuble, from Anglo-French estuble, from Latin stupula stalk, straw, alteration of stipula — more at stipule

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stubble

• stubble mulch

Rhymes for stubble

• bubble
• double
• rubble
• trouble
• redouble

Kids Definition

stubble

noun

stub·​ble ˈstəb-əl 

1

: the stem ends of herbs and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the ground after harvest

2

: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble

stubbly

-(ə-)lē 

adjective