nibble
3 synonyms for nibble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To eat something by taking small, repeated bites.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
nybble
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To eat something by taking small, repeated bites.
“The rabbit nibbled quietly on a piece of lettuce.”
2. noun
A small bite, or a small amount of food eaten in small bites.
“He took a nibble of the cheese before deciding he liked it.”
nybble
How to use nibble
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
nibble on
nibble away at
a quick nibble
Etymology
From Late Middle English nebillen, "to peck away at something" — likely related to Low German words for eating in small bites.
Full origin of nibble →Frequently asked questions
What does “nibble” mean?
The word “nibble” means to eat something by taking small, repeated bites. In plain terms, to eat or bite in small amounts, or a small bite itself; in computing, half a byte.
How do you pronounce “nibble”?
“Nibble” is pronounced NIHBL (/ˈnɪb(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “nibble” in a sentence?
Here is “nibble” used in a sentence: “The rabbit nibbled quietly on a piece of lettuce.”
What part of speech is “nibble”?
Depending on how it is used, “nibble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “nibble” come from?
The word “nibble” comes from Middle English. From Late Middle English nebillen, "to peck away at something" — likely related to Low German words for eating in small bites.
How many meanings does “nibble” have?
“Nibble” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to eat something by taking small, repeated bites.
