dribble

American  

[drib-uhl] / ˈdrɪb əl /

verb (used without object)

• dribbles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dribbled,
  past participle,  past
• dribbling
  present participle

1. to fall or flow in drops or small quantities; trickle.

2. to drivel; slaver.

3. Sports. to advance a ball or puck by bouncing it or giving it a series of short kicks or pushes.

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verb (used with object)

• dribbles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dribbled,
  past participle,  past
• dribbling
  present participle

1. to let fall in drops.

2. Sports.

   1. Basketball. to bounce (the ball) as in advancing or keeping control of it.

   2. (especially in ice hockey and soccer) to move (the ball or puck) along by a rapid succession of short kicks or pushes.

noun

• dribbles
  plural

1. a small trickling stream or a drop.

2. a small quantity of anything.

   a dribble of revenue.

3. Sports. an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck.

4. Scot. a drizzle; a light rain.

dribble British  

/ ˈdrɪbəl /

verb

1. (usually intr) to flow or allow to flow in a thin stream or drops; trickle

2. (intr) to allow saliva to trickle from the mouth

3. (in soccer, basketball, hockey, etc) to propel (the ball) by repeatedly tapping it with the hand, foot, or stick

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noun

1. a small quantity of liquid falling in drops or flowing in a thin stream

2. a small quantity or supply

3. an act or instance of dribbling

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dribbler
  noun
• dribbly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dribbles
  plural

Participles

• dribbling
  present
• dribbled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dribble
  simple
• dribbles
  simple
• have dribbled
  perfect
• has dribbled
  perfect
• am dribbling
  progressive
• are dribbling
  progressive
• is dribbling
  progressive
• have been dribbling
  perfect progressive
• has been dribbling
  perfect progressive

Past

• dribbled
  simple
• had dribbled
  perfect
• was dribbling
  progressive
• were dribbling
  progressive
• had been dribbling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dribble
  simple
• will have dribbled
  perfect
• will be dribbling
  progressive
• will have been dribbling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of dribble

1555–65; frequentative of obsolete drib (v.), probably variant of drip

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Explanation

A dribble is a slow, steady flow of water. Or, if you are a basketball player, you dribble the ball to make your way towards the basket. Dribbling consists of tiny drops of water (or another liquid) dripping. If you've ever had a leaky faucet going drip-drip-drip-drip, then you know exactly what dribbling is like, and how annoying it can be. Dribbling in basketball isn't annoying at all; in fact, it's an essential skill. If you think about it, the repeated tap-tap-tap of the ball sounds a bit like the drip-drip-drip of the water dribbling.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dribble dribbles dribbled dribbling

President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said before the season that he and Redick wanted to intentionally build a cast of role players who could pass, dribble and shoot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

In a recent game at Golden State, her dribble behind the back to create space for a 3-pointer left a Valkyries player staggering backward and grabbing her ankles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

For him, the human connection, human respect is as important — if not more important — than the ability to dribble through tight spaces.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Madueke had five touches in the opposition box, completed his only dribble of the game and won the penalty to set England on their way.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

He couldn’t dribble again and he’s too far away to shoot anything good.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

He also ranked in the top three for dribbles completed per match.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

No player attempted more dribbles in the match than his eight.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

Palmer was creative, physically impressive and produced several superb dribbles before scoring an excellent third goal.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

At Cagliari, Palestra attempted 73 dribbles over distances of more than 5m - the most by any defender in Serie A - with only Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz recording more in the competition.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Finally, they reached the dribbles of water from a spigot that passed for a shower.

From "Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps" by Andrea Warren

To be fair to Maradona, he then scored probably the greatest World Cup goal of all time as he dribbled through half the England team, rounded Shilton and slotted home to double Argentina's lead.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

On the field, Maradona dazzled fans as he dribbled around defenders like no else could.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

He must have forgotten who was guarding him, because Brandon McCoy came flying like Superman to block the shot, then took the deflected ball, dribbled and delivered an uncontested dunk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026

A sweetly-struck kick sailed over Steyn and dribbled into touch five metres from Scotland's line for a 50:22.

From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2025

In fact, most of the improvements dribbled out by mill owners over the years were really meant to prevent unions from taking hold in the South.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

With a lot of these jokes it’s like dribbling a football, you just don’t know where it’s going to land.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Kane, not known for his dribbling - and by his own admission "not the fastest", has thrived on his own terms.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

England fan completes challenge dribbling ball from Africa.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

There’s no dribbling here, no sudden change of direction, or blur of delicate touches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

I have an allergy to catching and throwing and kicking and dribbling of any kind.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

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Related Words

• drizzle
• ooze
• squirt

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