verb
dabble
DAB-uhl
verb
1
To try an activity casually or occasionally, without serious commitment.
"He dabbled in painting during his twenties but never took it seriously."
"She's dabbled in a few different careers before settling on teaching."
2
To splash a body part gently in water or soft mud, often playfully.
"The children dabbled their feet in the stream on the hot afternoon."
How to Use Dabble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo try something a little, casually, without going all in.
Memory tip
If someone "dabbles" in something, they are a hobbyist, not an expert.
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Common pairings
dabble in art
dabble in stocks
dabble in politics
Word Forms
dabbled past tense, dabbles plural, dabbles singular
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He _____ in painting during his twenties but never took it seriously.
Etymology
From an earlier form "dable," related to "dab," possibly influenced by a Middle Dutch word meaning to fumble or splash about.