kibble

1 of 2

noun

kib·​ble ˈki-bəl How to pronounce kibble (audio)
plural kibbles
1
: coarsely ground meal or grain typically used as animal feed
especially : small, dry pellets of processed food for pets (such as dogs and cats)
She refilled Moosh's water bowl and checked his supply of kibble. Anne Tyler
… the high costs of shipping products like 40-pound bags of kibble. Brad Stone
2
: a pellet of kibble
usually plural
The treats should be tiny so that she does not get full. Cat food kibbles make a good treat because they are tiny and usually palatable to dogs.Katherine A. Houpt
Americans' pets are undoubtedly the best-fed animals in the world, but it costs their owners a lot to keep them in kibbles.Jake Chapline

kibble

2 of 2

verb

kibbled; kibbling ˈki-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce kibble (audio)

transitive verb

: to grind coarsely
kibbled dog biscuit
kibbled grain

Examples of kibble in a Sentence

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.
Noun
However, Meatball seems unimpressed with his bowl of dry kibble, gazing up at Park with disinterest. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Sure enough, as soon as the parmesan hits the kibble, the pup devours his food without hesitation. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 With dry food, the oils and crumbs from kibble can accumulate and attract bacteria. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2025 In about three minutes, the dog's crate flipped upside down, the door mangled and the food bowl empty with kibble spread across the floor. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kibble

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kibble was circa 1790

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Cite this Entry

“Kibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kibble. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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