dab Meaning & Definition
What Does Dab Mean?
Dab is used as a verb meaning To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing. It can also mean To apply a substance in this way. As a noun, it means A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow. As an adverb, it means With a dab, or sudden contact.
Word Facts for Dab
| Part of speech | verb, noun, adverb, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //dæb// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | pat, splash and splatter |
| Antonyms | doog and doogheno |
| Plural | dabs |
| Comparative / superlative | more dab, most dab |
| Verb forms | dabs, dabbing, dabbed |
Dab Definition (Verb)
- To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.
I dabbed my face with a towel.
- To apply a substance in this way.
The nurse will dab some ointment on that gash.
- To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust.
- To apply hash oil to a heated surface for the purpose of efficient combustion.
- To perform the dab dance move; to move both arms, parallel with one's head, to either side of the body.
- Synonym of daub (to mark a bingo card)
Dab as a Noun
- A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
- A soft, playful box given in greeting or approval.
- A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
a dab of glue
- A small amount of hash oil.
- Fingerprint.
- A hip hop dance move in which the dancer simultaneously drops the head while raising an arm, briefly resting their face in the elbow, as if sneezing into their elbow.
- A dabbler.
Dab as an Adverb
- With a dab, or sudden contact.
Noun
- One who is skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.
- ↑ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “dab”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ↑ “dab, n.³.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000; apud Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “dab”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- 1 2 Quinion, Michael (27 May 2000), “Dab hand”, in World Wide Words, retrieved 18 June 2025
Noun
- A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially Limanda limanda; a flounder.
- A sand dab, a small flatfish of genus Citharichthys.
Dab as an Adjective
- Bad.
Noun
- (chiefly in the plural) Fingerprint.
Verb
- To perform the dab dance move, by moving both arms to one side of the body parallel with your head.
Noun
- One skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.
Adjective
- (costers) Bad.
Synonyms of Dab
Dab synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Dab
Dab in a Sentence
I dabbed my face with a towel.
Dab the tears from your eyes.
The nurse will dab some ointment on that gash.
a dab of glue
He dabbed moisturizing liquid on his face.
Word Forms & Grammar
dab (third-person singular simple present dabs, present participle dabbing, simple past and past participle dabbed)
dab (plural dabs)
dab (not comparable)
dab (comparative more dab, superlative most dab)
Words That Rhyme With Dab
Origin of Dab
Origin 1: From Middle English dabben (“to strike”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Old Icelandic dabba (“to tap, slap”), perhaps ultimately imitative.[1] Compare also with Middle Dutch dabben (“to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble”) (Dutch dabben (“(of a horse) to stamp with the forelegs”)), Dutch deppen (“to dab”), possibly German tappen (“to fumble, grope”).
Origin 2: The noun is from Middle English dabbe (“a strike, blow”), from the verb. Related to tap. Compare also drub, dub.
Origin 3: African-American sense of “playful box” perhaps influenced by dap (“fistbump”).
Origin 4: Unknown. First use in print was in 1691, in The Athenian Mercury; it is also found in the Dictionary of the Canting Crew of 1698; see quotations for both. Originally used in the cant of criminals, and later in school slang.[2][3] It may be a profound alteration of adept,[3] likely from deliberate slangy usage thereof (rather than natural sound-change), which if true would give such earlier forms as *adep (or *dept) > *dep > *deb.
Pronouncing Dab
The standard pronunciation of dab is //dæb//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dab
Is dab a verb or a noun?
Dab is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun, an adverb and an adjective.
What is another word for dab?
Words with a similar meaning to dab include pat, splash and splatter. See the full list of dab synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of dab?
The plural of dab is dabs.
What is the past tense of dab?
The past tense of dab is dabbed. The present participle is dabbing.