bubble

verb

Definition of bubblenext
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream the soapy water bubbled down the drain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bubble While the pop culture world is still reeling over Kelly Clarkson’s feud with a Brooklyn store, there’s a new online row bubbling up on X between Kacey Musgraves and Kristi Noem. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 And for the artists of a genre that first bubbled up three decades ago, reparto’s global takeover is just getting started. — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 In the back, tanks bubbled with live lobsters while crawfish squirmed in boxes nearby. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 The replicant uprising that has been bubbling up in the films has taken place and the humans have lost. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bubble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bubble
  1. splash
  2. wash
  3. ripple
  4. drip
  5. trickle
Verb
  • The emotional landscape is heightened by birdcalls, splashing waves, and trees thrashing in the wind.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This gargantuan show is replete with Pollock's greatest hits, the giant, frozen dances of paint splashed on canvas that have become iconic.
    — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • The only additional water usage for this collection comes in a single rinse wash given by Triarchy before the finished product ships so that the consumer doesn’t have to wash before wearing.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • To kill lice or eggs that have jumped to surfaces, wash all clothing, bedding, head wear and toys that came in contact with the child’s head in the past two days in hot water and dry them on high heat.
    — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of wash
Verb
  • On July 23, 1973, tragedy rippled through the Mexican American community when 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer who tried to coerce him into confessing to a burglary by playing Russian roulette.
    — Alexis Guerrero, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • On Facebook, Lee’s account displayed a picture of the young Chinese man from behind, rippling shoulders framed in a weight lifter’s tank top.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of ripple
Verb
  • Adding that there were multiple bloods; some waterier, some viscous, others stickier, Flanagan explained that blood for dropping was different from what needed to be painted on Howell, which could not drip off.
    — Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Amal, 48, opted for a liquid gold off-the-shoulder gown dripping in beaded fringe.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of drip
Verb
  • That shows that the demand is there, and then the demand signals trickle down.
    — SJ Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • With rain beginning to trickle down, men and women toting cameras of various technological advances and capabilities traveled from end zone to end zone working to get great shots — either for the team, a news outlet or for an individual athlete.
    — McClain Baxley for the AJC, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of trickle

Browse Nearby Words

brutishness
bubble
bubbled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bubble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bubble. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All