scribble

1 of 2

verb

scrib·​ble ˈskri-bəl 

scribbled; scribbling ˈskri-b(ə-)liŋ  ; scribbles

transitive + intransitive

1

: to write or draw hastily or carelessly

a note scribbled on the back of an envelope

Harriet scribbled in her notebook as soon as she took her seat.

—Louise Fitzhugh

He took a stump of lead pencil out of his pocket and scribbled a moustache on the lion's upper lip and then a pair of spectacles on its eyes.

—C. S. Lewis

2

: to fill or cover something with careless or worthless writings or drawings

a scribbled envelope

… papers … scribbled over with clues …

—English Digest

scribble

2 of 2

noun

plural scribbles

: a piece of writing or a drawing that is done quickly or carelessly

She could barely make out the doctor's scribble.

a page covered with random scribbles

… he pulled a thick wad of envelopes from the inside of the pillowcase he was wearing. Harry could make out Hermione's neat writing, Ron's untidy scrawl, and even a scribble that looked as though it was from the Hogwarts gamekeeper, Hagrid.

—J. K. Rowling

Synonyms

Verb

• scratch
• scrawl
• squiggle

Examples of scribble in a Sentence

Verb

She scribbled a note to him and then dashed off to her meeting.

He scribbled down his phone number.

Students scribbled furiously as the professor lectured.

She was scribbling away in a notebook.

The toddler scribbled all over the paper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Toward the end of the interview, Robbins scribbles a note on a card and draws a box around it several times. —Belinda Luscombe / Boston, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024

It was stuffed with scraps of paper on which Lindsay had scribbled down hopes for the future, including a desire to get pregnant again. —Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

Noun

Just scribble on an object or person (there are separate modes for them) to create a Magic Mask. —PCMAG, 3 Oct. 2024

The asymmetrical picture, featuring Picasso's trademark scribble, is of a woman with brown hair wearing a blue dress and red lipstick. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scriblen, from Medieval Latin scribillare, from Latin scribere to write

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scribble

verb

scrib·​ble ˈskrib-əl 

scribbled; scribbling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to write or draw hastily or carelessly

scribble noun

scribbler

ˈskrib-(ə-)lər

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scriblen "to write hurriedly or carelessly," from Latin scribillare (same meaning), from earlier scribere "to write" — related to scribe