to dabble

Examples

• All

• Are you telling me they like to dabble in the black arts?

  Werewolf Cabal (2022)

• Many college students dabble in different subjects before choosing a major.

• I love to dabble in many visual art forms.

• Oh, I just dabble in watercolors.

  Elemental (2023)

• When I abandoned poetry, I went on to dabble in various other genres, hoping I'd get closer to the truth.

  Academic text (2008)

• One would be hard-pressed to find a pop musician who has not at some point dabbled in composition.

  Academic text (1999)

• Doug also dabbles in blogging on around the Block.

• I've dabbled in some light hacking.

  Apocalypse of Ice (2020)

• In her free time, she likes to dabble in painting and drawing.

• He doesn't take music seriously; he just wants to dabble with playing the guitar.

Synonyms

M

to mess around

vsto dabble

• Informal

111 4.1

To spend time doing playful or unplanned activities

involves trying activities superficially rather than wasting time idly

P

to play around

vsto dabble

• Informal

47 3.4

To try something in a casual playful way without being serious

is casual involvement without real commitment

N

to noodle around

vsto dabble

• Informal

1 8.0

To play an instrument in a relaxed way without serious practice

is broader casual involvement not limited to improvisation or music

D

to dally

vsto dabble

1 7.5

To think about an idea without planning to do it

involves casual participation rather than just thinking about it

S

to smatter

vsto dabble

• Archaic

9.9

To know a little about a subject or language

refers to casual involvement in activities rather than limited knowledge

Antonyms

C

to commit

706 3.4

To give time, money, or effort to something

S

to specialize

208 4.3

To focus on one area of work or study and become an expert

How Committed

to specialize

208 4.3

to pursue

∞ 3.5

practice

585 1.6

to try out

229 2.8

to dabble

45 4.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology