blab

[ blab ]

verb (used with object)

, blabbed, blab·bing.

1. to reveal indiscreetly and thoughtlessly:

   They blabbed my confidences to everyone.

verb (used without object)

, blabbed, blab·bing.

1. to talk or chatter indiscreetly or thoughtlessly:

   Don't confide in him, because he blabs. She blabbed so much I couldn't hear the concert.

noun

1. idle, indiscreet chattering.
2. a person who blabs; blabbermouth.

blab

/ blæb /

verb

1. to divulge (secrets) indiscreetly
2. intr to chatter thoughtlessly; prattle

noun

1. a less common word for blabber blabber

Derived Forms

• ˈblabbing, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blab¹

1325–75; Middle English blabbe (noun), perhaps back formation from blaberen to blabber; cognate with Old Norse blabbra, German plappern

Word History and Origins

Origin of blab¹

C14: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German blabbizōn , Icelandic blabbra

Example Sentences

Cat crunched her lemonade ice happily and said mental thank-yous—to Harriet for not blabbing, to Chicken for not being any quicker, to the driver of the truck.

From Literature

Think of the worst person you know: the kind who blabs people’s secrets, mocks their diction, dismisses their pain while making festivals of her own.

From New York Times

Within minutes, she’d blabbed to everyone, making it sound like a big joke—with Jess and the twins as the punch line.

From Literature

Babbling and blabbing all along with only about 1/3 of his content having any meaning in reality.

From Salon

He literally wants to keep blabbing about these sensitive documents in the unsecured scene of the crime.

From Salon

Related Words

• divulge
• tell on