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Dabbled: meaning, definitions and examples

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dabbled

 

[ ˈdæb(ə)ld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

light involvement

To dabble means to take a superficial or casual interest in something without being deeply committed. It often implies engaging in an activity in a playful or experimental manner rather than with serious intent.

Synonyms

experiment, mess around, tinker

Examples of usage

  • She dabbled in painting but never took it seriously.
  • He has dabbled in various hobbies over the years.
  • They dabbled in politics during their college years.

Translations

Translations of the word "dabbled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 experimentado

🇮🇳 हल्का सा काम किया

🇩🇪 herumexperimentiert

🇮🇩 mencoba-coba

🇺🇦 позаймався

🇵🇱 mieszał

🇯🇵 ちょっと手を出した

🇫🇷 expérimenté

🇪🇸 experimentado

🇹🇷 denemek

🇰🇷 조금 해보다

🇸🇦 جرب قليلاً

🇨🇿 experimentoval

🇸🇰 experimentoval

🇨🇳 涉猎

🇸🇮 poskusil

🇮🇸 prófa

🇰🇿 тәжірибе жасаған

🇬🇪 გამოცადა

🇦🇿 sınaqdan keçmiş

🇲🇽 experimentado

Etymology

The word 'dabble' initially appeared in the early 17th century and is believed to have originated from the Middle Dutch term 'dabbelen,' which means 'to move the hands in or out of water' or 'to splash.' It is often associated with light, playful movements, which metaphorically transferred to engaging in various activities without serious intention. The early usage of the term often referred to children playing in water, reflecting the carefree nature of dabbling. Over time, its meaning expanded to include casual involvement in any number of activities, ranging from the arts to crafts and hobbies. The nuanced transformation of the term illustrates how language evolves to encompass broader concepts while maintaining its original playful essence.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,694, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.