to take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way, to splash or play in water

dab hand at something, make a dab at something, dab of paint

dabble in, dabble one's feet in, dabble in the occult

Formal and Informal Expressions of dabble

In different contexts, you can replace 'dabble' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'experiment with, tinker with' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'play with, mess around with' is a commonplace synonym.

dabble: Explore its Definition & Usage

dabble Definition

1to take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way
2to splash or play in water

Using dabble: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dabble" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She dabbles in painting but doesn't take it seriously.
Example
He dabbled in politics before deciding to pursue a career in law.
Example
The children were happily dabbling in the shallow end of the pool.
Example
I like to dabble with different recipes when I cook.

dabble Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for dabble

toy with
play with
tinker with
experiment with
amuse oneself with

Antonyms for dabble

focus on
concentrate on
devote oneself to

Idioms Using dabble

dab hand at something
a person who is skilled or expert at something
Example
She's a dab hand at fixing things around the house.
make a dab at something
to make a clumsy or ineffectual attempt at something
Example
He made a dab at repairing the car engine, but ended up making it worse.
dab of paint
a small amount of paint applied with a quick, light stroke
Example
She added a dab of paint to the canvas to create a highlight.

Phrases with dabble

dabble in
to try something out without serious intentions or commitment
Example
She's been dabbling in photography lately, but she's not sure if she wants to pursue it as a career.
dabble one's feet in
to start doing something new or unfamiliar in a cautious way
Example
After years of working in finance, he decided to dabble his feet in entrepreneurship by starting a small business on the side.
dabble in the occult
to have a casual interest in or practice of supernatural or magical beliefs and practices
Example
Some people dabble in the occult as a form of entertainment or curiosity, while others take it more seriously.

Origins of dabble

from Middle Dutch 'dabbelen', meaning 'to paddle in water'

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Summary: dabble in Brief

The verb 'dabble' [ˈdæbl] means to participate in an activity in a casual or superficial way, such as 'She dabbles in painting but doesn't take it seriously.' It can also refer to playing or splashing in water. 'Dabble' is often used in phrases like 'dabble in' and 'dabble one's feet in,' which denote trying something out without serious commitment. The idiom 'dab hand at something' refers to a person who is skilled or expert at something.