dribbled; dribbling
ˈdri-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to issue sporadically and in small bits
2
: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little
3
a
: to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick
dribble a basketball
dribble a puck
b
: to hit (a ball) without much force so that it bounces slowly along the ground
1
: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle
2
: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool
3
: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion
4
1
: a tiny or insignificant bit or quantity
2
: a small trickling stream or flow
3
: an act, instance, or manner of dribbling a ball or puck
Examples of dribble in a Sentence
Verb
Juice dribbled down his chin.
She accidentally dribbled wine onto the rug.
Dribble olive oil over the warm bread before serving.
She dribbled across the basketball court.
He skillfully dribbled the soccer ball towards the goal.
Noun
He wiped a dribble of juice from the corner of the baby's mouth.
She gave the ball a dribble before passing it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 2 May 2025
As Nikola Jokic backed himself into a proverbial corner Saturday by dribbling away from the basket, the Nuggets’ season was sinking into deep trouble.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2025
Jim Root, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Meaning, if there’s dribble penetration, the ones helping in the paint are often wings that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are confident finishing against.
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Combined with the central centre-back being in no man’s land, McTominay can freely dribble forward…
… before striking the ball into the bottom corner.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 2 May 2025
As Nikola Jokic backed himself into a proverbial corner Saturday by dribbling away from the basket, the Nuggets’ season was sinking into deep trouble.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
Haggerty, an All-American scoring guard at Memphis, is an instant cheat code to an efficient offense thanks to his devastating dribble moves, finishing ability inside and knack for getting to the charity stripe.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Meaning, if there’s dribble penetration, the ones helping in the paint are often wings that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are confident finishing against.
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
Cite this Entry
“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dribble
2 of 2 noun1
: a small trickling flow
2
: an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck
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