verb
C2
Proficient
dribble
DRIH-buhl
Dribble (verb) means In sports such as football or basketball, to move the ball forward by repeatedly bouncing or tapping it. Example: “She dribbled past two defenders before shooting.”
verb
1
In sports such as football or basketball, to move the ball forward by repeatedly bouncing or tapping it.
"She dribbled past two defenders before shooting."
2
To let saliva or liquid drip slowly from the mouth or from a container.
"The baby dribbled down his chin."
"Water dribbled from the cracked pipe."
noun
1
A small trickle of liquid, or an act of dribbling a ball.
"There was just a dribble of milk left in the carton."
How to use dribble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move something (a ball, or liquid) forward in small, repeated bits rather than all at once.
Common pairings
dribble the ball
a dribble of sauce
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Word forms
- Plural
- dribbles
- Third person singular
- dribbles
- Past tense
- dribbled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ past two defenders before shooting.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dribble
See all rhymes for dribble →Frequently asked questions
What does “dribble” mean?
The word “dribble” means in sports such as football or basketball, to move the ball forward by repeatedly bouncing or tapping it. In plain terms, to move something (a ball, or liquid) forward in small, repeated bits rather than all at once.
How do you pronounce “dribble”?
“Dribble” is pronounced DRIH-buhl (/ˈdɹɪ.bɫ̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “dribble” in a sentence?
Here is “dribble” used in a sentence: “She dribbled past two defenders before shooting.”
What part of speech is “dribble”?
Depending on how it is used, “dribble” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “dribble” have?
“Dribble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in sports such as football or basketball, to move the ball forward by repeatedly bouncing or tapping it.
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