dribbled; dribbling
ˈdri-b(ə-)liŋ 
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
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
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
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
Alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Haliburton dribbled into the lane, where Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks met him.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 May 2025
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025
For a seamless pouring experience without dribbles or spills, look for a good pour spout.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
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Verb
Paige Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies dribbles the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game between Connecticut and Iowa at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 5, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Haliburton dribbled into the lane, where Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks met him.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 May 2025
Noun
Minnesota looked like a team that had forgotten how to shoot, dribble or pass.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025
For a seamless pouring experience without dribbles or spills, look for a good pour spout.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dribble
Cite this Entry
“Dribble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dribble. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dribble
2 of 2 noun1
: a small trickling flow
2
: an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck
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