Dabble

/ˈdæb.əl/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.

She dabbled in painting, creating a few pieces just for fun.

to splash or splatter water or a liquid.

The children loved to dabble their feet in the shallow end of the pool.

to dip one's hands or feet slightly into water or a similar substance.

He decided to dabble his toes in the ocean before fully committing to a swim.

The origin of the word dabble is uncertain, but it may be related to the Middle English 'dabben', meaning to splash or dab.

dabble in

To engage in a non-serious or casual way.

dabble with

To experiment or try out.

dabble around

To move about in a light or carefree manner.

tinker

To attempt to fix or improve something in a casual or experimental way.

fiddle

To act in a playful or aimless way with something.

To experiment with something trendy.

He started to dabble with the latest fashion styles.

To play around with a hobby.

She dabbles in photography, posting snapshots on Instagram.