How to Use dab in a Sentence

dab

1 of 2 noun

• There’s a dab, a song, a joke about a tattoo.
  — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
• Smack dab in the middle might’ve been enough three years ago.
  — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
• Ate with some shredded cheese, fresh cilantro and a dab of sour cream.
  — Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
• Place a dab of olive oil on a soft cloth and gently rub the stained area.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
• Pettis then added a dab of green to the canvas.
  — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
• Secure the felt to the straw with a small dab of glue and add to your drinks.
  — Janna Oberdorf, Parents, 15 Dec. 2025
• Use a cotton swab or dab with a microfiber cloth to treat spots.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
• Use a cotton swab or dab with a microfiber cloth to treat spots.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
• Put a small dab on each stain and gently rub it into the fibers.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
• Again, dabs of hot sauce turned to splashes, which became pools.
  — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
• Cut cake into wedges and serve with a dab of creme fraiche, if desired.
  — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2021
• Rinse the area with cold water and dab dry with a tissue or towel.
  — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
• Dull copper pieces can be shined by using a dry cloth and a dab of toothpaste.
  — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
• Dull copper pieces can be shined by using a dry cloth and a dab of toothpaste.
  — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
• Apply a dab of ketchup, then rinse away after about three minutes.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
• In a subtly chic choice, the har gow, or shrimp dumplings, are topped with a dab of black caviar and gold leaf.
  — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023
• A little dab goes a long way, so one jar can last several months, or longer.
  — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
• A little dab goes a long way, so one jar can last several months, or longer.
  — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
• Add a small dab of dish soap, then gently rub it into the fibers with a toothbrush.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
• Add a dab of toothpaste to 1-2 T of water.
  — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
• Add a dab of toothpaste to 1-2 T of water.
  — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
• For a beautiful sheer pop of metallic dab with your finger or a fluffy brush.
  — Katie Intner, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Dec. 2022
• Sprinkle with olive oil and add a dab of the balsamic vinegar.
  — Ted Weesner, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2023
• Apply a small dab of the shampoo to wet hair, before rinsing off.
  — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Oct. 2022
• Spray the solution onto a clean cloth and dab to remove stains.
  — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
• Spray the solution onto a clean cloth and dab to remove stains.
  — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2025
• Use a small dab of wool wash or Castile soap to pretreat visible stains.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
• Pre-treat each stain with a dab of detergent and lightly rub it into the stain.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
• But adding a dab of muhammara from the meze trio jazzed up the beef beautifully.
  — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
• The tiniest dab works quickly to soften your winter-dry skin yet is non-greasy.
  — Sam Peters, ELLE, 23 Dec. 2022

dab

2 of 2 verb

• Use a sponge brush to dab paint on the spool.
  — Janna Oberdorf, Parents, 15 Dec. 2025
• Liquid stains rolled off and were easy for testers to dab up.
  — Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2022
• Gently dab and wipe away the stain with a clean cloth or sponge.
  — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
• Gently dab and wipe away the stain with a clean cloth or sponge.
  — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
• Bush Hager, joked while dabbing at tears.
  — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
• Once the shapes are in place, use a foam brush to dab paint over the design.
  — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
• Lightly spray or dab white vinegar over the paste.
  — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 28 Jan. 2026
• Lightly spray or dab white vinegar over the paste.
  — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
• Just dab in acetone and use it to clean up your cute designs.
  — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, 23 Dec. 2020
• Dip and then wring out a rag and gently dab or wipe the sticky areas.
  — Motormouth Bob Weber, Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
• Dip a soft, white cloth or cotton swab in cool water and dab the stain.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
• Gently dab lemon juice on the stain to help break down oils in the chocolate.
  — Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
• First, dab excess oil or grease stains from the clothing with a clean cloth.
  — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
• Sluice with vinegar, dab with chile, eat, wipe the sweat from your brow and repeat.
  — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
• Kick back, grab a beer, and dab some of this liquid gold on your next burger recipe.
  — Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 15 Nov. 2022
• Pour or dab the makeup remover onto the back of the stain.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
• Once the stain appears to have been lifted, dab the area dry with a clean cloth or sponge.
  — Noma Nazish, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
• Cut up remaining butter and dab it over the top.
  — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
• Grab a paper towel or a clean cloth, and gently dab the spill.
  — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
• Glue its two pieces together and then dab some glue on the angled edge.
  — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 30 Nov. 2022
• Use a spoon to dab or drizzle it onto the rice (not the chicken).
  — Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024
• Add water, insert a paw, twist, then dab dry with a towel.
  — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
• Prevent snags by dabbing hot glue on the back of the rug to secure loose ends.
  — Amber Wagner, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
• Some of his family members dabbed their eyes.
  — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
• Use a clean sponge or cloth to gently wipe and dab the stain away from the outer edges inwards.
  — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
• Use a clean sponge or cloth to gently wipe and dab the stain away from the outer edges inwards.
  — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
• Wet the sticker with a few drops of water and dab it with a paper towel.
  — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
• The jolliest time of year is also smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season.
  — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 14 Dec. 2023
• Once the area is clean, dab the Persian rug with clean water to remove soap.
  — Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025
• Carefully take your cotton ball and blot or dab the area (do not smear) with acetone.
  — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023