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

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Etymology

Origin of dabble

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

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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

Meta Platforms used to be a company that didn’t dabble much in debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

I try to dabble with producing here and there because I have ideas, but it’s the real musicians, the real artists that take the ideas that I might pitch out and create something with it.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

Some investors, especially younger professionals, already dabble in crypto before they seek an adviser.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 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

I dabble with a few other instruments: viola, violin, and a little piano.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

She also dabbles in other technologies, including quantum computing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

He serves today as Donald Trump’s pardon attorney, but Martin also dabbles in other projects for the president, who reportedly speaks to him frequently on the phone.

From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026

Beetlejuice dabbles in other goofy alternatives such as a matador outfit and an afterlife customs-officer uniform.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024

The headliner, a New Zealander called Mike Boon, moved back home with his Dundee-born wife and became a teacher who dabbles in comedy for children.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2024

The great purple-yellow wings Rise up behind the little red and green man; The purple-yellow wings fan him, He dabbles his feet in cool green.

From Men, Women and Ghosts by Amy Lowell

After attending business school, he dabbled in comedy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

American has dabbled in some specialty kits, including a collaboration with U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

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

"I've never followed it religiously, but I dabbled in a little bit of weight training and I tried running, although I didn't like that very much," said Bill.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 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

She grew up wanting to play basketball and dabbling in football, but she has been the de facto face of women who play baseball without picking a bat up for a half-decade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

The 32-year-old began dabbling in the music world back in the 2010s, but his work really picked up steam in 2020 when his debut album Dissimulation shot to number two in the UK charts.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 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

“Better he should express himself into a better apprenticeship. He’ll come of nothing dabbling in Peale’s paint pots.”

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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