dabble

[ dab-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, dab·bled, dab·bling.

1. to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands.
2. to work at anything in an irregular or superficial manner:

   to dabble in literature.

   Synonyms: dally, toy, fiddle, putter

3. (of a duck) to feed on shallow-water vegetation with rapid, splashing movements of the bill.

verb (used with object)

, dab·bled, dab·bling.

1. to wet slightly in or with a liquid; splash; spatter.
2. Chiefly South Midland U.S. to wash or rinse off lightly.

dabble

/ ˈdæbəl /

verb

1. to dip, move, or splash (the fingers, feet, etc) in a liquid
2. intr; usually foll by in, with, or at to deal (with) or work (at) frivolously or superficially; play (at)
3. tr to daub, mottle, splash, or smear

   his face was dabbled with paint

Derived Forms

• ˈdabbler, noun

Other Words From

• dabbler noun
• dabbling·ly adverb
• un·dabbled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dabble¹

1550–60; probably dab ¹ + -le; compare Dutch dabbelen, dabben

Word History and Origins

Origin of dabble¹

C16: probably from Dutch dabbelen; see dab ¹

Example Sentences

Steve Graham had dabbled in breaking in college in the early 1980s.

From Washington Post

We’ve dabbled in products before with Kraft Heinz and our Ssam Sauce.

From Fortune

In a recent widely-shared essay about those dabbling in Robinhood options, veteran trader Ranjan Roy referred to them as “the gravy” for the rest of the industry.

From Fortune

In the 10 years since Bitcoin came on the financial scene, central banks have quietly been dabbling in digital currencies of their own.

From Fortune

Like other major video streaming sites around the world, Kuaishou and iQiyi have dabbled in making augmented reality content, and securing a hardware partner will no doubt be instrumental to their early experiments.

From TechCrunch

Then, about five years ago, I had this urge to dabble with it again.

From The Daily Beast

For gay or straight performers, and those who dabble in both, there's no industry standard for safety.

From The Daily Beast

Did you dabble in a bit of liquid courage before your Sin City dance scenes?

From The Daily Beast

In the interim, Herring took a short break from the band to dabble in his side-project—rapping under the moniker Hemlock Ernst.

From The Daily Beast

Hourani began to dabble with a myriad of artistic careers, from model scouting to styling to art direction.

From The Daily Beast

I suppose it is the inevitable doom of all those who dabble in Scotch soil; but really your fate is the more blessed.

From Project Gutenberg

The earlier alchemists knew nothing of its theosophic doctrines; and the earlier Rosicrucians did not dabble in alchemy.

From Project Gutenberg

It is our desire to state at the start that this paper does not intend to dabble in the muddy pool of politics.

From Project Gutenberg

Also Marion got a spaniel and began to dabble with the minor arts, with poker-work and a Kodak and hyacinths in glasses.

From Project Gutenberg

He took off his linen painting sleeves, and began to dabble his fingers in a pan of turpentine.

From Project Gutenberg