dabble

verb

dab·​ble ˈda-bəl 

dabbled; dabbling ˈda-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest

dabbles in art

2

a

: to paddle, splash, or play in or as if in water

b

: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water in order to obtain food

transitive verb

: to wet by splashing or by little dips or strokes : spatter

Examples of dabble in a Sentence

The ducks dabbled in the stream.

She sat by the pool, dabbling her feet in the cool water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ateliers Horizons has dabbled in sound before, developing a first jukebox in 2019, as well as a boombox housing a vertical turntable. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 May 2025

Given Lewis Hamilton has also dabbled in the music industry under the pseudonym XNDA and, in 2018, collaborated with Christina Aguilera, the question is whether the Ferrari teammates will compose a piece together? —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 May 2025

The Musk bot also dabbled in Holocaust denial last week, as Rolling Stone’s Miles Klee reports. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 20 May 2025

Not yet ready to give up on music, Golden dabbled in music journalism throughout the Seventies, writing for Rolling Stone and Creem, and took up residence singing jazz at Clifford’s Lounge on the Upper West Side. —Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps frequentative of dab entry 2

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for dabble

• babble
• babel
• drabble
• gabble
• nabal
• rabble
• scrabble
• immeasurable

Kids Definition

dabble

verb

dab·​ble ˈdab-əl 

dabbled; dabbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to wet by splashing : spatter

2

a

: to paddle or play in or as if in water

b

: to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water to obtain food

ducks dabbled in the pond

3

: to work or concern oneself lightly or without deep involvement

they dabble in poetry

dabbler

-(ə-)lər

noun