dab
verb (used with object)
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist.
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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.
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to apply (a substance) by light strokes.
He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
-
to strike, especially lightly, as with the hand.
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to consume (cannabis) by inhaling the vapor of heated cannabis extract oil.
-
Masonry. to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
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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.
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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
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(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:
“He can’t use his hands at all so we also have to dab him with towels. He can’t even scratch his nose.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
It’s smack dab in the middle of the migration routes for the Round Valley and Casa Diablo herds, according to a recent study.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025
Learning from England mistakes in Perth and his own previous troubles in Australia, Root barely scored through the covers and largely put away any intention to dab the ball behind square on the off side.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025
"The chimpanzees dab them on their wounds or chew the plants up, and then apply the chewed material to the open injury."
From BBC ● May 14, 2025
Then he taught me how to fold the dough over the filling and dab the edges with water before pressing the corners together.
From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani
Ofcom said there was evidence that the transmission provider was asked to turn off the Horizon Radio service on DAB at 18:32 BST and again at 18:43, at 18:44 and twice at 18:47.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
Finally, the existing Radio 1 Dance station, currently available as a stream on BBC Sounds, will launch on DAB with new and enhanced content.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2024
Mehrabi and his co-chair, Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, a former DAB governor and former finance minister, told Reuters that they would consider the findings once they are available.
From Reuters ● Jul. 21, 2023
However, a full-scale transfer back to Afghanistan's central bank, known as DAB, is seen as all but impossible with a top official who is under both U.S. and U.N. sanctions.
From Reuters ● Nov. 21, 2022
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
As she talks, she carefully dabs concealer under her eyes and adds some pink blush and highlighter to her cheeks.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
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
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
His voice was firm, doling out dabs of sweetness cut with the occasional thrilling yelp.
From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2023
Abuela pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at her tears.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
“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
She dabbed at Ashish’s lip with an increased vigor, pulling back when Ashish winced.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
It made me well up, which embarrassed me until I glanced around the room and noticed a few others dabbing their eyes, too.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 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
In the courtroom, Giles’ mother, wearing a “Christy’s Mom” shirt, and several other women who showed up in support of the victims could be seen hugging and dabbing their eyes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2025
“Um, I guess because you’re smart and good at questions and . “Because you pissed her off,” Petra said, dabbing self-consciously at the sweat on her upper lip.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
