dribble

1 of 2

verb

drib·​ble ˈdri-bəl How to pronounce dribble (audio)
dribbled; dribbling ˈdri-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce dribble (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to issue sporadically and in small bits
2
: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little
3
a
: to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick
dribble a basketball
dribble a puck
b
: to hit (a ball) without much force so that it bounces slowly along the ground

intransitive verb

1
: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle
2
: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool
3
: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion
4
a
: to dribble a ball or puck
b
: to proceed by dribbling
c
of a ball : to move with short bounces
dribbler noun

dribble

2 of 2

noun

1
: a tiny or insignificant bit or quantity
2
: a small trickling stream or flow
3
: an act, instance, or manner of dribbling a ball or puck
dribbly adjective

Examples of dribble in a Sentence

Verb Juice dribbled down his chin. She accidentally dribbled wine onto the rug. Dribble olive oil over the warm bread before serving. She dribbled across the basketball court. He skillfully dribbled the soccer ball towards the goal. Noun He wiped a dribble of juice from the corner of the baby's mouth. She gave the ball a dribble before passing it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
On the first possession after Christie checked in midway through the first quarter, Russell dribbled with his left toward Christie in the corner. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bronny dribbled toward the baseline, then backed out, steadied himself, and knocked down a smooth jumpshot. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
The two players talked about how when Christie checked in later that night, Russell would try to break down a defender off the dribble, allowing for Christie to quickly cut backdoor for a layup. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 Chicago’s relentless dribble penetration sent Milwaukee’s defense scrambling. Brian Sampson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dribble 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of drib to dribble

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1589, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dribble was circa 1589

Dictionary Entries Near dribble

Cite this Entry

“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dribble

1 of 2 verb
drib·​ble ˈdrib-əl How to pronounce dribble (audio)
dribbled; dribbling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce dribble (audio)
1
: to fall or flow or let fall in small drops : trickle
2
3
: to move forward by tapping, bouncing, or kicking
dribble a basketball
dribble a puck
dribbler noun

dribble

2 of 2 noun
1
: a small trickling flow
2
: an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck

More from Merriam-Webster on dribble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!