dabble

American  

[dab-uhl] / ˈdæb əl /

verb (used without object)

• dabbles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dabbled,
  past participle,  past
• dabbling
  present participle

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.

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verb (used with object)

• dabbles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dabbled,
  past participle,  past
• dabbling
  present participle

1. to wet slightly in or with a liquid; splash; spatter.

2. Chiefly South Midland U.S. to wash or rinse off lightly.

dabble British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dabbler
  noun
• undabbled
  adjective
• dabblingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• dabbling
  present
• dabbled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dabble
  simple
• dabbles
  simple
• have dabbled
  perfect
• has dabbled
  perfect
• am dabbling
  progressive
• are dabbling
  progressive
• is dabbling
  progressive
• have been dabbling
  perfect progressive
• has been dabbling
  perfect progressive

Past

• dabbled
  simple
• had dabbled
  perfect
• was dabbling
  progressive
• were dabbling
  progressive
• had been dabbling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dabble
  simple
• will have dabbled
  perfect
• will be dabbling
  progressive
• will have been dabbling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dabble

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

Explanation

You dabble when you are a little bit involved in an activity, such as an art form or a hobby. Maybe you only dabble in mystery novels, but you are very knowledgeable about comic books. The word dabble can also often relate to water. It can mean “to splash playfully,” or “to get just a little wet.” A bird can also dabble in water by dipping its bill into it. Each of these meanings of dabble is often followed by the word in. For example, a duck may dabble in the water (and then dribble a few drops afterward from its bill), and you may dabble in shrubbery art.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dabble dabbles dabbled dabbling

She didn’t shy away from talking money with her young kids after the payday, and had them dabble with stock investing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

But not having the program dabble in political humor is a business decision.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

There is no shame in Gyllenhaal’s game, and her honest excitement to dabble with references and emotion is refreshing, even when these moments grate.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026

But many people also dabble in corporate bonds and real-estate investment trusts, commodities like gold and silver and, more recently, cryptocurrencies.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 30, 2026

“Well, I figure we’ll start out using your gifts for good. And then maybe we’ll dabble in evil for a bit, before coming round again.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

She also dabbles in other technologies, including quantum computing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

His company rides industry cycles up, down and sideways, and dabbles in woodworking when there’s a lull.

From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024

He dabbles in dirtbikes in a quest toward finding freedom, which is how we first met.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2024

"It's incredible. As somebody who also dabbles in fiction, let me just also say, I couldn't have written any of this."

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2023

Ah! odd thing, a man never retires, but he gets into some mess; marries or dabbles on the Stock Exchange. 

From More Pages from a Journal by Mark Rutherford

He previously lived in Florence, Italy, where he dabbled in opera, travelled by private jet and promoted his rum, wine and fashion brand -- "De la Espriella Style."

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

On the other, he knew that the company had dabbled in off-kilter programming offerings for the past 50 years.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

More successfully, George dabbled in the new science of agronomy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

That helps explain the contrast with other superstars like Rajinikanth who also dabbled with politics but stopped short.

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came back again.

From "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

Some Premier League clubs are dabbling with pricing a selection of seats dynamically to boost revenues.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

I moved to China for three and a half years, taking full advantage of the local happy hours, dabbling in fine dining and even splitting the cost of a housekeeper with my roommate.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026

He later spent time in Hungary, dabbling in nationalist politics and earning a doctorate degree.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2026

Nobody is saying OpenAI is dabbling in anything like liar loans or subprime mortgages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025

As Syme had done earlier, Winston had taken up his spoon and was dabbling in the pale-colored gravy that dribbled across the table, drawing a long streak of it out into a pattern.

From "1984" by George Orwell