bobble
Americannoun
-
a repeated, jerky movement; bob.
-
a momentary fumbling or juggling of a batted or thrown baseball.
-
an error; mistake.
-
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)
-
bobbles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bobbled,
past participle, past
-
bobbling
present participle
noun
-
a short jerky motion, as of a cork floating on disturbed water; bobbing movement
-
a tufted ball, usually for ornament, as on a knitted hat
-
any small dangling ball or bundle
verb
-
(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
-
bobblesimple
-
bobblessimple
-
have bobbledperfect
-
has bobbledperfect
-
am bobblingprogressive
-
are bobblingprogressive
-
is bobblingprogressive
-
have been bobblingperfect progressive
-
has been bobblingperfect progressive
Past
-
bobbledsimple
-
had bobbledperfect
-
was bobblingprogressive
-
were bobblingprogressive
-
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:
"The subtle colour of a tie or hair bobble… all of these are signals that allow the wearer to symbolically share their cultural and ideological positions," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
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
The image depicts two children lying on the ground dressed in wellington boots, coats and winter bobble hats, one of them pointing upwards towards the sky.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
As Muncy’s ball soared to the wall, Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick jumped, got a glove on it, and then — at least it seemed initially — caught it on a bobble.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
I get so excited I let go of the balloons—about a zillion red, yellow, blue, purple, and green rubber globes bobble all over the ceiling.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
But its popularity began to wane, as teenagers moved away from the colourful earrings, necklaces and hair bobbles the brand was known for, says fashion expert Priya Raj.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
An exception is a small Loewe bucket bag inspired by Josef’s early glass assemblage experiments when he was a Bauhaus student, which abounds with glass bobbles and haptic surprise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2025
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
And he bobbles about on the waves, Brave boys!
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, April 9, 1892 by Various
Ward bobbled the ball as he picked it up for the relay home and a close play at the plate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler should have collected Mariona Caldentey's free-kick as it bobbled towards her, but the presence of Blackstenius put her off and she fumbled the ball backwards.
From BBC ● Apr. 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
His knees bobbled and bucked with the boat as it sped along, snaking its way in the writhing grooves of the stream.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
After controlling a bobbling pass and setting himself up in one touch, the 21-year-old rifled a hip-height volley on the swivel past Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon at full stretch.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2025
UCLA’s Colson Yankoff was decent in his first game returning kickoffs even while bobbling one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2023
He also hit redshirt freshman wideout Denzel Boston for a diving, bobbling 50-yard strike, despite tight coverage from cornerback Thaddeus Dixon.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 2, 2023
Tagovailoa opened training camp Wednesday by tossing a deep ball to receiver Jaylen Waddle, who made a bobbling catch over safety Jevon Holland for a 40-yard completion.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 26, 2023
Because life wasn’t really an ocean, and she wasn’t really a little boat bobbling about on it.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
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