scribble

1 of 2

verb

scrib·​ble ˈskri-bəl 

scribbled; scribbling ˈskri-b(ə-)liŋ  ; scribbles

transitive + intransitive

1

: to write or draw hastily or carelessly

a note scribbled on the back of an envelope

Harriet scribbled in her notebook as soon as she took her seat.

—Louise Fitzhugh

He took a stump of lead pencil out of his pocket and scribbled a moustache on the lion's upper lip and then a pair of spectacles on its eyes.

—C. S. Lewis

2

: to fill or cover something with careless or worthless writings or drawings

a scribbled envelope

… papers … scribbled over with clues …

—English Digest

scribble

2 of 2

noun

plural scribbles

: a piece of writing or a drawing that is done quickly or carelessly

She could barely make out the doctor's scribble.

a page covered with random scribbles

… he pulled a thick wad of envelopes from the inside of the pillowcase he was wearing. Harry could make out Hermione's neat writing, Ron's untidy scrawl, and even a scribble that looked as though it was from the Hogwarts gamekeeper, Hagrid.

—J. K. Rowling

Synonyms

Verb

• scratch
• scrawl
• squiggle

Examples of scribble in a Sentence

Verb

She scribbled a note to him and then dashed off to her meeting.

He scribbled down his phone number.

Students scribbled furiously as the professor lectured.

She was scribbling away in a notebook.

The toddler scribbled all over the paper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Traven Sharon stalked the center mat at Ball Arena Saturday night with two letters and a number, faded by sweat and toil — BB1 — scribbled on the outside of his left shoe. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025

With digital labeling, no one has to try to remember who is who in your pictures (or decipher your illegible handwriting scribbled on the back). —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025

Noun

And the journals next to our beds are filled with scribbles. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025

The title comes from what Charlotte, missing her soulmate, scribbles on the remnants of Adam’s mural (symbolizing the memory of him pressed on her heart). —Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scriblen, from Medieval Latin scribillare, from Latin scribere to write

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scribble

verb

scrib·​ble ˈskrib-əl 

scribbled; scribbling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to write or draw hastily or carelessly

scribble noun

scribbler

ˈskrib-(ə-)lər

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scriblen "to write hurriedly or carelessly," from Latin scribillare (same meaning), from earlier scribere "to write" — related to scribe