noun
Uncommon
marbles
Marbles (noun) means a children's game played by flicking small glass or stone balls, or the balls themselves. Example: “They played marbles at recess every day.”
noun
1
A children's game played by flicking small glass or stone balls, or the balls themselves.
"Egyptian boys played marbles before the days of Moses."
"They played marbles at recess every day."
2
(informal) One's sanity or good sense.
"Granny's still got all her marbles."
"After that stunt, people started to wonder if he'd lost his marbles."
"Grandpa's lost his marbles, but at least he still recognizes us."
How to use marbles
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe classic playground game, or informally, someone's sanity.
Common pairings
lose your marbles
a game of marbles
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like marbles.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They played _____ at recess every day.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “marbles” mean?
The word “marbles” means a children's game played by flicking small glass or stone balls, or the balls themselves. In plain terms, the classic playground game, or informally, someone's sanity.
How do you use “marbles” in a sentence?
Here is “marbles” used in a sentence: “They played marbles at recess every day.”
What part of speech is “marbles”?
“Marbles” is a noun.
Is “marbles” a common word?
“Marbles” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “marbles” have?
“Marbles” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a children's game played by flicking small glass or stone balls, or the balls themselves.
