dabbling Meaning & Definition
What Does Dabbling Mean?
As a noun, dabbling means a superficial or intermittent interest, investigation, or experiment. As a verb, it means to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest.
Dabbling in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈda-b(ə-)liŋ/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Plural | dabblings |
Dabbling Definition (Noun)
- a superficial or intermittent interest, investigation, or experiment
his dabblings in philosophy and art
Dabbling as a Verb
- to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest
dabbles in art
- to paddle, splash, or play in or as if in water
- to reach with the bill to the bottom of shallow water in order to obtain food
- to wet by splashing or by little dips or strokes : spatter
Synonyms of Dabbling
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Dabbling synonyms and antonyms →Dabbling in a Sentence
The children sat on the dock and dabbled their feet in the water.
She’s an actress by trade, but has been known to dabble in poetry.
his dabblings in philosophy and art
dabbles in art
She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium.
Word Forms & Grammar
dabbling
dabblings
dab·bled
dab·bling
dabble
dabbled
dabbles
dabbling (plural dabblings)
Words That Rhyme With Dabbling
Origin of Dabbling
perhaps frequentative of dab:2
First Known Use
circa 1847
1557t
Pronouncing Dabbling
The standard pronunciation of dabbling is /ˈda-b(ə-)liŋ/, spoken in 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (da).