dibs

American  

[dibz] / dɪbz /

noun

Informal.

1. money in small amounts.

2. rights; claims.

   I have dibs on the car when Jimmy brings it back.

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dibs British  

/ dɪbz /

plural noun

1. another word for jacks

2. a slang word for money

3. informal (foll by on) rights (to) or claims (on): used mainly by children

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dibs Idioms  

1. see have dibs on.

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Usage

What does dibs mean? When you call dibs on something, you claim it, especially in advance (before other people can claim it or get to it).To call dibs, you usually actually say (or shout) dibs, especially while mentioning the thing you’re claiming, as in Dibs on the last slice of pizza! If you’ve got dibs, you consider yourself to have the right to the thing that you’ve made a claim to. Dibs is very informal and is mostly used by kids. It’s especially seen in the phrases call dibs, have dibs, got dibs, and first dibs.Less commonly, dibs is used as a slang term for small amounts of money or as another name for the game of jacks.Example: There’s only one cupcake left, but I already called dibs on it.

Etymology

Origin of dibs

1720–30; shortening of earlier dibstones a children's game; dib

Example Sentences

After the contract ended last summer, it was replaced by a "first look deal" which gives Netflix first dibs on any new proposed shows from Meghan and the Duke of Sussex.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

She gets dibs on spending the proceeds; she’s considering investments and a down payment for a larger home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

“She called dibs on my dad. All the girls picked one from the campsite, and they went and met. My mom and dad, they stuck. Nobody else did.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025

Mr. Forrest, Janet Maslin wrote in a review in The New York Times, “would be the surprise hit of the movie if Miss Midler didn’t herself have dibs on that position.”

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

She took the last Twinkie after I called dibs!

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman