scribble

¹ American  

[skrib-uhl] / ˈskrɪb əl /

verb (used with object)

scribbled, scribbling

1. to write hastily or carelessly.

   to scribble a letter.

2. to cover with meaningless writing or marks.

   to scribble all over a page.

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verb (used without object)

scribbled, scribbling

1. to write or draw in a hasty or careless way.

2. to make meaningless marks, scrolls, lines, etc., with a pencil, pen, or the like.

noun

• scribbles
  plural

1. a note or other writing that has little or no meaning.

2. a hasty or careless drawing or piece of writing.

3. handwriting, especially when illegible.

scribble ² American  

[skrib-uhl] / ˈskrɪb əl /

verb (used with object)

scribbled, scribbling

1. to tear apart (wool fibers) in the first stages of carding.

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scribble ¹ British  

/ ˈskrɪbəl /

verb

1. to write or draw in a hasty or illegible manner

2. to make meaningless or illegible marks (on)

3. derogatory to write poetry, novels, etc

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noun

1. hasty careless writing or drawing

2. writing, esp literary matter, of poor quality

3. meaningless or illegible marks

scribble ² British  

/ ˈskrɪbəl /

verb

1. (tr) to card (wool, etc)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scribbly
  adjective
• scribblingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scribbles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scribble¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb scriblen, scribul, from Medieval Latin scrībillāre “to scribble,” derivative of Latin scrībere “to write”; see also shrive

Origin of scribble²

First recorded in 1675–85; from Dutch schribbelen “to scratch”; cognate with schrobbelen “to card wool coarsely,” frequentative of schrobben to scrub ¹

Explanation

To scribble is to write something quickly and sloppily. You can also call someone's handwriting, if it's hard to read, a scribble. Have you ever made a note of something very quickly, and then later when you tried to read it, you couldn't? That's a scribble. People scribble when they need to write fast. The problem with scribbling—-making a scribble-—is that it’s hard to read. Some people have handwriting that is always hard to read: you can call poor handwriting a scribble. Doctors are famous for their scribbles. The Latin root is scribere, "to write."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scribble scribbles scribbled scribbling

Then, in April, the court said: Now that we have the full case before us, we’re going to summarily reverse the district court for the reasons set forth in our five-paragraph scribble from December.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

Ava steps away for a moment, giving Deborah an opportunity to reach for her notebook to scribble a thought . . . then it happens.

From Salon ● May 29, 2026

Based on a 2014 play by David Haig, who co-wrote its screenplay with its director, Anthony Maras, the movie faces an obvious challenge: Watching meteorologists scribble notations on charts isn’t particularly cinematic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

You had this rough scribble of a brick base with a curvy wave over the top of it.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

I stare down at my own card and scribble Junior Agent in big letters.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

We find her dictating instructions through that landline, in perfect French, to her atelier in Paris while making notebook scribbles under the covers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

Malak picks up a pen from the headteacher's desk and scribbles over the photo.

From BBC ● May 7, 2025

In another pivotal moment, Violet scribbles a message that seems to be a big deal according to the tense and pounding score.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2025

Steves is a lifelong Lutheran, a Christian who, during our Salon photo shoot, scribbles a postcard to his Grandma Grace on "Long Gone Ave., Heaven."

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2025

I hand him the blank absentee card, and he scribbles his signature on it, and I slip it into my backpack before I go to bed.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

I would send the work I thought was my best, and I knew he read them, because he’d often send them back with scribbled notes and comments.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

Parton later quietly organized for Bandit to be surpised with a custom acoustic guitar, bedazzled with rhinestones and the words "To Brigitte, Love Dolly" scribbled across it.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

We went around the long dinner table, illuminated by a fireplace, and read what we’d scribbled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

On a recent Saturday morning, Joel Galvez cracked open a spiral notebook and scribbled in the date and a prayer: “Dios bendiga este día. Amen.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

The professors behind him scribbled on their clipboards.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Jack McGrail and Aiyana Da’Briel, staff leaders for the SoLa Live Accelerator program behind the event, seemed to be everywhere at once, passing out wristbands and scribbling on clipboards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

It was finally done in a month of frantic scribbling and, when complete, caused eyes to pop.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

They moved on to a client tender and she was scribbling notes.

From Slate ● Apr. 12, 2026

While on vacation in France, he started scribbling an idea for a spy novel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

I get out a piece of paper and start scribbling.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

Related Words

• jot
• scratch
• scrawl