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

Since the show's end in 1974, Forster dabbled in race car driving in the early 2000s and occasionally acts outside of Hollywood. —Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025

These younger gamblers are also dabbling in speculative investing, which many experts would say looks a lot like gambling. —Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

For my corporate baddies who have thought about dabbling into entrepreneurship Nicaila Matthews Okome has created the blueprint. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025

By that time, Mould and Hart began dabbling in more melodic songwriting, which spiked interest in the band at college radio stations around the country. —Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 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