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dabble

4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for dabble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To try an activity casually or occasionally, without serious commitment.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

smatter play around splash around

How to use dabble

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

dabble in art dabble in stocks dabble in politics

Etymology

From an earlier form "dable," related to "dab," possibly influenced by a Middle Dutch word meaning to fumble or splash about.

Full origin of dabble →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dabble” mean?

The word “dabble” means to try an activity casually or occasionally, without serious commitment. In plain terms, to try something a little, casually, without going all in.

How do you pronounce “dabble”?

“Dabble” is pronounced DAB-uhl (/ˈdæb.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “dabble” in a sentence?

Here is “dabble” used in a sentence: “He dabbled in painting during his twenties but never took it seriously.”

What part of speech is “dabble”?

“Dabble” is a verb.

Where does the word “dabble” come from?

The word “dabble” comes from Dutch. From an earlier form "dable," related to "dab," possibly influenced by a Middle Dutch word meaning to fumble or splash about.

How many meanings does “dabble” have?

“Dabble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to try an activity casually or occasionally, without serious commitment.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.