dabble
verb (used without object)
to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands.
had dabbled
-
past perfectof dabble.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
On the other, he knew that the company had dabbled in off-kilter programming offerings for the past 50 years.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
She had dabbled in art education, but found including that background seemed to confuse LinkedIn’s algorithm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Dr Byers had dabbled in the field while at university.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2025
He assumed the position with the blessing of then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell to tap into a passion Fratantoni had dabbled in on his own almost from the moment he joined the department in 1999.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025
His father, though a clerk in the Bank of England, was a fine classical scholar and had dabbled in verse.
From Modern English Books of Power by George Hamlin Fitch
