dab
verb (used with object)
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist.
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dabq.
dab
1 American
[dab]
/ dæb /
verb (used with object)
-
dabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dabbed,
past participle, past
-
dabbing
present participle
-
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist.
The child dabbed his eyes with the handkerchief.
-
to apply (a substance) by light strokes.
He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
-
to strike, especially lightly, as with the hand.
-
to consume (cannabis) by inhaling the vapor of heated cannabis extract oil.
-
Masonry. to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
-
Western U.S. to throw (a rope or line) in an effort to lasso or catch something.
Joe dabbed his rope on the steer.
verb (used without object)
-
dabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dabbed,
past participle, past
-
dabbing
present participle
-
to strike lightly; make a dab; pat.
She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
-
to consume cannabis by inhaling the vapor of heated cannabis extract oil.
She dabs for a more intense high.
noun
-
a quick or light blow; a pat, as with the hand or something soft.
-
a small moist lump or mass.
a dab of butter.
-
a small quantity.
a dab of powder.
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a dose of cannabis extract oil.
-
a dance move that involves posing with one’s nose in the crook of a bent elbow at chest level while extending the other arm to the side at or above shoulder level, often performed as a celebratory posture in sports or other competitions.
dab
2
American
[dab]
/ dæb /
noun
dab
3
American
[dab]
/ dæb /
noun
-
Also called dab hand. a person skilled in something; an expert.
-
an excellent or extraordinary person or thing.
adjective
DAB
4
American
dab
1
British
/ dæb /
verb
-
to touch lightly and quickly
-
(tr) to daub with short tapping strokes
to dab the wall with paint
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(tr) to apply (paint, cream, etc) with short tapping strokes
noun
-
a small amount, esp of something soft or moist
a dab of ink
-
a small light stroke or tap, as with the hand
-
(often plural) a slang word for fingerprint
dab
2
British
/ dæb /
noun
-
a small common European brown flatfish, Limanda limanda, covered with rough toothed scales: family Pleuronectidae: a food fish
-
(often plural) any of various other small flatfish, esp flounders Compare sand dab
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Also called: patiki. a sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebia , common around New Zealand's South Island
DAB
3
British
abbreviation
dab
4
British
/ dæb /
noun
Usage
What else does dab mean? In slang, dab can be a highly concentrated marijuana extract, a type of hip-hop dance, or touching the ground with your foot while you ride a bicycle. Doing any of these actions is called dabbing, and yes, you could feasibly do all three at once—not that we recommend it.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dabsimple
-
dabssimple
-
have dabbedperfect
-
has dabbedperfect
-
am dabbingprogressive
-
are dabbingprogressive
-
is dabbingprogressive
-
have been dabbingperfect progressive
-
has been dabbingperfect progressive
Past
-
dabbedsimple
-
had dabbedperfect
-
was dabbingprogressive
-
were dabbingprogressive
-
had been dabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dab1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb dabben “to strike, hit,” of uncertain origin; compare Old Icelandic dabba “to strike, tap,” Norwegian dabbe “to shuffle along, walk slowly,” Middle Dutch dabben “to pinch, knead,” German tappen “to feel along, grope”
Origin of dab2
First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps special use of dab 1
Origin of dab3
First recorded in 1685–95; of uncertain origin
Explanation
A dab is a quick, soft application of something, like paint or makeup. You might touch up a clown's makeup with several dabs on his cheeks and forehead. A dab is the motion with which you pat or apply something to a surface, and it's also the tiny amount of material you're applying. An artist might work in dabs of paint, and a baker might lick a dab of cake batter off her finger. Dab is a verb too: "Dab this aloe on your sunburn — it'll feel much better." A dab is a "light, striking movement," from the earlier dabben, "to strike."
Vocabulary lists containing dab
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:
And LeBron James found himself smack dab in the swirl of the fierce and funny festivities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Barry is also finding time to celebrate on the pitch, even rolling back the years by bringing back the dab and hip-swinging celebrations.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
For the last few days, smack dab in the middle of his long-awaited breakthrough at USC, Arenas was sick.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026
Already in her still relatively short career, Elle Fanning has managed to position herself smack dab in the center of these two polarities, the perfect combination of classic Hollywood and new age celebrity.
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
He wasn’t on the ground no more—he was flying high, smack dab in the middle of a cyclone!
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Horizon Radio tried to get the stream turned off multiple times and provided Ofcom with a recording of an apology broadcast in the following hour once it had resumed control of its DAB output.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
It is one of four new radio stations the corporation intends to launch on DAB and online via BBC Sounds in an effort to attract new audiences.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2024
Treasury's view that the bank must make reforms before the department will support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB, as the central bank is known, said a U.S.
From Reuters ● Jul. 21, 2023
The other $3.5 billion in DAB assets frozen in the United States is being sought in lawsuits against the Taliban brought by families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
From Reuters ● Jul. 21, 2023
To DAB, DAUB, v. a. to peck, as birds do with their bills.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Alexander Leighton
Sand dabs and halibut, still edible and plentiful there, were held in a net slung under the hull and served moments later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
Adapting to the slowness of the pitch, he played none of his trademark dabs to third man, instead pouncing to whip through the leg side any time England dropped short.
From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2024
Martha Stewart doesn't do warts, but Cutler edits a wry irony into the artful coverage she dabs on her blemishes, like her refusal to count her marital infidelity as equivalent to that of her husband.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024
A selection of all white suits, jackets and lace dresses also featured in the spring/summer 2024 collection, as did dabs of leopard print on shiny macs and dresses.
From Reuters ● Sep. 23, 2023
She takes her small canister of Royal Crown Hair Dressing, dips her fingers into the pomade, and dabs it on my hair.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
“It’s so difficult to explain,” said Gorden, now 33 and the captain at Angel City, as she dabbed at the tears with a tissue.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026
In the rear open kitchen, Manon Fleury turned humble winter produce into memorable dishes: Fried sweet-potato threads mimicked a mini funnel cake, dabbed with loquat jam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
Afterwards Nawat appeared at a press conference wearing a tuxedo and openly weeping as he theatrically dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, claiming he had been "betrayed".
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2025
He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's pace.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2025
He plucked a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his forehead, wiped his fingertips.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
We see through her eyes an assistant dabbing moisturizer on her hand, art installers asking where she wants a large sculpture, a man cleaning her pool who greets her.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
Inside, women are dabbing moisturizers, sampling eye shadows and swabbing lipsticks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
"You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have," she said, dabbing away tears and occasionally pausing to collect herself.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
When she’s asked to imagine her life after “Hacks,” Einbinder’s face suddenly turns pink, a folded tissue appears, and she’s dabbing away tears.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025
He nodded to Zafoona, who sat in a wheelchair provided by the airline, dabbing at her eyes.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
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