dumbbell

American  

[duhm-bel] / ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

• dumbbells
  plural

1. a gymnastic apparatus consisting of two wooden or metal balls connected by a short bar serving as a handle, used as a weight for exercising.

2. a stupid person.

   Synonyms:

   dimwit, blockhead, fool, ignoramus, dunce

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dumbbell British  

/ ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

1. gymnastics weightlifting an exercising weight consisting of a single bar with a heavy ball or disc at either end

2. a small wooden object shaped like this used in dog training for the dog to retrieve

3. slang a fool

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dumbbells
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dumbbell

First recorded in 1705–15; dumb + bell ¹

Explanation

A dumbbell is a type of weight you might see at a gym. You typically lift a dumbbell with one hand — unless it's too heavy and you accidentally drop it on your foot. Ouch! The short, handheld exercise weights are known as dumbbells, while the larger weights that require two hands for lifting are barbells. If you're new to weightlifting, you might want to start doing bicep curls with light dumbbells. The name comes from the bar once used to ring a church bell: dumbbells resemble these ringers, although they're dumb, or "silent." Dumbbell is also used in a derogatory way to mean "stupid person."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dumbbell dumbbells

This typically happens during the lowering portion of a movement, such as bringing a dumbbell down, walking downstairs, or slowly lowering yourself into a chair.

From Science Daily ● May 1, 2026

Atlas has yet to be put to work in factories, but videos put out by Boston Dynamics show the humanoid picking up auto parts, pumping a dumbbell and plucking a tissue from a box.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2025

For instance, each dumbbell at the Chargers facility is emblazoned with the club’s lightning-bolt logo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025

He was injured returning a dumbbell to its rack in Toronto’s weight room.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

That's why I'd grown up holding a stick or a ball or a dumbbell.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

This can include lifting weights such as dumbbells, using gym machines or resistance bands, or using your own body weight in exercises such as squats, step-ups or press-ups.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and cable machines are all part of the strength training Antonia offers in her gym space, located in a shipping container.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

His ability to hurl 500-pound dumbbells means nothing, he said, if he can’t execute simple bodyweight movements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

“We use dumbbells like you’d use at the gym,” Porciuncula says, “not those inflatable ones or foam ones, plus weighted medicine balls, kickboards, paddles and other aqua resistance equipment.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2026

When she originally snuck into her foster parents’ room, looking for something to steal from Francis, who gave her the weakest welcome, she spotted Jenn Lori’s bedside dumbbells and gave lifting a shot.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera