dabble
verb (used without object)
to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands.
dabbled
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past participleof dabble.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof dabble.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
dabbleverb (used without object)to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I dabbled in basketball some too,” she confessed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
DaSafo also dabbled with an acting career, appearing in two episodes of the crime drama Top Boy and the 2012 film The Grind.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
It has dabbled in value with its $10.99 “Boardwalk Bundle,” while also using limited-time offerings such as its popular chicken salad to broaden its appeal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
A teacher by profession, Rocha has dabbled both in academia and politics throughout his career.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
He stood shirtless before the mirror and dabbled some of the perfume on his dark, hairy armpits.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
