How to Use dab in a Sentence

dab

1 of 2 noun

• Secure the lid in place with a dab of glue around the edges.
  — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 14 Mar. 2021
• Topped it with a few taco toppings and a dab of sour cream.
  — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 July 2023
• Put just a dab on them and blend VERY gently with a sponge.
  — Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 31 Jan. 2023
• In a subtly chic choice, the har gow, or shrimp dumplings, are topped with a dab of black caviar and gold leaf.
  — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023
• Lance’s iconic dab was there right from his first scene.
  — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 25 May 2023
• Put a dab of water on one of the bottom corners (the filling side, not the seam side).
  — cleveland, 29 Nov. 2022
• Don’t forget to add a dab of icing and a Red Hot for a doorknob.
  — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 30 Nov. 2022
• Cut cake into wedges and serve with a dab of creme fraiche, if desired.
  — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2021
• The Puffco Hot Knife simplifies the process, working as a dab tool to load the rig.
  — A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 11 June 2021
• Again, dabs of hot sauce turned to splashes, which became pools.
  — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
• The fried pieces of dough are stuffed full with delicate blue crab that just need a kiss of lemon and a dab of the aioli for the perfect bite.
  — Megan Dubois, Chron, 14 Mar. 2023
• Sprinkle with olive oil and add a dab of the balsamic vinegar.
  — Ted Weesner, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2023
• Place two small dabs of mustard on the snake’s head and top with peppercorns to create eyes.
  — Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 27 July 2023
• Apply a small dab of the shampoo to wet hair, before rinsing off.
  — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Oct. 2022
• Before those meets, the company would spruce things up — a touch of paint here, a dab of plaster there.
  — New York Times, 22 July 2022
• Apply all over damp hair post-shower and on dry hair, glide a small dab over strands to smooth and shape as needed.
  — Dori Price, Good Housekeeping, 3 June 2022
• Keep in mind that a little goes a long way here, so a simple quarter-sized dab of pomade will do.
  — Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 1 Feb. 2023
• For a beautiful sheer pop of metallic dab with your finger or a fluffy brush.
  — Katie Intner, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Dec. 2022
• Correct the seasoning with salt and pepper, and add a small dab of Dijon mustard and a speck of cayenne.
  — David Tanis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2023
• Easter Egg Tip: To prevent the pipe cleaner from slipping off the egg, secure with a dab of glue at the top and bottom.
  — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
• But, through the tears, curse words and laughter, Holland successfully finished the 10 spicy wings and the last dab.
  — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE.com, 9 Dec. 2021
• The tiniest dab works quickly to soften your winter-dry skin yet is non-greasy.
  — Sam Peters, ELLE, 23 Dec. 2022
• Before release, the researchers mark the koalas with a dab of pink dye on their backs, to ensure the same animals aren’t caught twice.
  — Christina Larson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023
• Rub a dab of castor oil between hands and glide a very thin layer over frizz-prone areas on dry hair.
  — Andrea Cheng, Good Housekeeping, 30 Nov. 2022
• This Strawberry Pavlova recipe calls in a splash of lemon juice, a dab of lemon zest, a drip of vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher salt.
  — Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme, Bon Appétit, 17 July 2023
• After a little work with a wet paper towel and a dab of dish soap, there was no leftover residue or stains on the chair.
  — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
• Red clamps and blue tape take credit for the hard work done by secret dabs of glue, while other yips of color compete with the gray floors, and lose.
  — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2023
• Lather your head with a moisturizer, but with a small dab.
  — Joseph Cheatham, Men's Health, 11 June 2023
• Paper plates served as palettes and each artist was given several dabs of acrylic paint.
  — Lola Sherman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2023
• This simple side dish, adorned with a dab of butter, crispy bacon and the optional thyme leaves, really lets the vegetable shine.
  — Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2024

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dab

2 of 2 verb

• Liquid stains rolled off and were easy for testers to dab up.
  — Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2023
• Gently dab lemon juice on the stain to help break down oils in the chocolate.
  — Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
• So, wait no longer to dab on gobs of goodness on your skin.
  — Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 7 Feb. 2023
• Once the stain appears to have been lifted, dab the area dry with a clean cloth or sponge.
  — Noma Nazish, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
• Dip and then wring out a rag and gently dab or wipe the sticky areas.
  — Motormouth Bob Weber, Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
• Use a spoon to dab or drizzle it onto the rice (not the chicken).
  — Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024
• The crowd got a showstopper, from the artist smack dab in the middle of that night’s lineup.
  — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
• Prevent snags by dabbing hot glue on the back of the rug to secure loose ends.
  — Amber Wagner, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
• Just dab in acetone and use it to clean up your cute designs.
  — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, 23 Dec. 2020
• Sluice with vinegar, dab with chile, eat, wipe the sweat from your brow and repeat.
  — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
• Even cooler, there’s a stretch of sand smack dab in the middle of one of the lakes that’s complete with a fire pit.
  — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2023
• So Judy got out her powder puff to dab her eyes, then gave it to Liza with her tears on it.
  — Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
• The jolliest time of year is also smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season.
  — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 14 Dec. 2023
• Kick back, grab a beer, and dab some of this liquid gold on your next burger recipe.
  — Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 15 Nov. 2022
• Then, lightly dab it onto the most parched areas of your hair.
  — Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
• Load a tiny amount of paint onto the tips of the brush and dab it onto the brick at a right angle with a clean in-and-out motion.
  — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2022
• Glue its two pieces together and then dab some glue on the angled edge.
  — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 30 Nov. 2022
• Take the crust off a slice, roll the remainder into a sponge, and dab it against the offending mark to lift it.
  — Jenny Xie, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2022
• The railway departs from Milford, New York — a quaint little town smack dab in the middle of the state.
  — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
• Lilit closed her eyes while cutting the onions, and Reggie gently dabbed her tears.
  — Nasha Smith, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
• Stephens suddenly found that his acreage was smack dab in the best place in the world to apply these new techniques.
  — Christopher Helman, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
• Then pour a small amount of gold, pearl, or black polish onto a piece of foil and dab a sponge into the polish.
  — Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2023
• If dabbing a rosy shade of blush on the apples of your cheeks can bring your face to life, imagine what three shades of blush could do.
  — Annie Blay, Allure, 2 Aug. 2023
• Instead, moisten a corner of a soft cloth and dab the solution on with that.
  — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022
• Smack dab in the middle is the great room, which feels reminiscent of an atrium and acts as an anchor for the rest of the home.
  — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2024
• Use a clean makeup remover pad or cotton round to dab at the stain until it's gone.
  — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 7 Mar. 2021
• Once the stain is removed, dab the area with another damp cloth to rinse thoroughly and blot dry.
  — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
• The Ashley, Bridget or Erin had tried to do something about her mouth, dab it with lip gloss, but the makeup had not helped.
  — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
• Carefully take your cotton ball and blot or dab the area (do not smear) with acetone.
  — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023
• There was a point in my high school career, smack dab in the middle of the 2010s—the dog days of the Indie Sleaze Era—where a certain pair of boots became all the rage.
  — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2024

Last Updated: 9 Jun 2024