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Definition of dabble

dabble

/ˈdæb.əl/
dab · ble
Adjective:dabbling
•
Past Simple:dabbled
•
Past Participle:dabbled
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Present Participle:dabbling
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dabble Lexical Profile

dabble Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To take part in an activity or subject in a casual, superficial, or amateurish way.

Example

"During college, he began to dabble in watercolor painting and photography."

2

To immerse one's hands or feet partially in water and move them around gently.

Example

"The children sat on the wooden dock to dabble their feet in the cool lake."

3

To feed by tipping the head and bill into shallow water without submerging completely (of a duck or other waterfowl).

Example

"Mallards prefer to dabble for aquatic plants in the shallows rather than dive deep underwater."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for dabble

• Nearby Words

da nang
dab
dabber
dabble
dabbler
daboecia
daboia

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-16th century, 'dabble' was either formed in English as a frequentative of 'dab' using the suffix '-le', or borrowed from Dutch 'dabbelen' (to splash in water or mud).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dabble. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dabble
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