bobble
Americannoun
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a repeated, jerky movement; bob.
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a momentary fumbling or juggling of a batted or thrown baseball.
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an error; mistake.
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a small ball of fabric usually used decoratively, as in a fringe or other trimming.
a sweater with a line of bobbles up the sleeves.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a short jerky motion, as of a cork floating on disturbed water; bobbing movement
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a tufted ball, usually for ornament, as on a knitted hat
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any small dangling ball or bundle
verb
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(intr) sport (of a ball) to bounce with a rapid erratic motion due to an uneven playing surface
-
informal to handle (something) ineptly; muff; bungle
he bobbled the ball and lost the game
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bobblesimple
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bobblessimple
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have bobbledperfect
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has bobbledperfect
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am bobblingprogressive
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are bobblingprogressive
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is bobblingprogressive
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have been bobblingperfect progressive
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has been bobblingperfect progressive
Past
-
bobbledsimple
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had bobbledperfect
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was bobblingprogressive
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were bobblingprogressive
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had been bobblingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bobble
1805–15; bob 1 + -le; bobble ( def. 4 ) perhaps new formation with bob 2
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.
See Examples For:
In Wednesday’s slalom, Shiffrin laid down a vintage first run in 47.13 seconds that gave her a lead of 0.82 seconds, despite a bobble halfway down the course.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026
At third base, Hernández tagged up once, then again after seeing Frelick’s bobble, before finally breaking for home plate as the Brewers relayed the ball in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
That bobble, Clark said, might have made the difference.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
Essex Police said Danny is 6ft 4in, with a shaved head, and was last seen wearing a long black coat with a grey and black bobble hat.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2023
One time this caused her to bobble the vial, and she had to snatch it in midair before it hit the second-floor landing and shattered.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Fujii decorated these with a basic white sugar glaze and silver bobbles.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2023
No way center fielder Chris Taylor bobbles the ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2023
They lamented a couple of bobbles during their rhythm dance Saturday, though it was still good enough to leave them in first place.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2022
A witness said they saw Mr Watson "allow and encourage" a girl to put bobbles in his hair in about June.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2022
A 'fool hen' or mountain grouse comes out and bobbles her head at the passing packtrain.
From The Cariboo Trail A Chronicle of the Gold-fields of British Columbia by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)
The first season of Feeney ball was a resounding success, despite all the strikeouts and bobbled catches in between.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
We struggled so hard to handle Cuba, and bobbled it so often.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
There was still an opportunity for someone to keep it out, but the ball bobbled past a sea of black and white shirts and crept past Ramsdale, who was slow to react.
From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025
With two on and two out, Heyward lined a double into center field that easily scored Will Smith from second, and was bobbled by the Rangers’ Leody Taveras in center field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2024
In her childhood her father had never misinterpreted her, nor bobbled once, except when she was eleven and came home to dinner from school one day and found that her blood had begun to flow.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made a mistake in the 50th minute, failing to stop what appeared to be a simple cross and bobbling the ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
With the way the park is, the ball is bobbling about everywhere.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2024
After bobbling the ball, McRoberts hurried the throw to second baseman Colby Lee for the final out.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2023
It's an unmistakable image of the Disney+ show: Mando in his silver armor and face-shielding helmet and Grogu bobbling along, behind or beside with his own gleaming protective hovercraft.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2023
They saw flocks of gulls, gossiping, bickering, bobbling on the waves, flying in noisy swarms.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
