Word
dabbling
Phoneticsdab·bling
US/ˈdæbəɫɪŋ/
UK/dˈæblɪŋ/
Definition
v. to try something in a light, casual way without giving it full time or effort. You use this when someone paints, cooks, or invests just for fun, not as a serious job.
v. to engage in an activity in a casual or superficial way, without serious commitment. Often followed by 'in' plus the activity concerned.
Examples
“She is dabbling in painting on weekends.”
“After retirement he started dabbling in gardening, growing tomatoes and herbs in small pots on his balcony.”
“While dabbling in photography taught her to notice light and shadow, she never pursued it beyond weekend walks with an old camera.”
Examples
simple
“She is dabbling in painting on weekends.”
contextual
“After retirement he started dabbling in gardening, growing tomatoes and herbs in small pots on his balcony.”
complex
“While dabbling in photography taught her to notice light and shadow, she never pursued it beyond weekend walks with an old camera.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dabbling” in context.
Verb
01. dabble in painting
“She dabbles in painting without wanting to sell her work.”
verb + prep + noun
02. dabble in photography
“He dabbled in photography before choosing filmmaking.”
verb + prep + noun
03. dabble in politics
“After retirement, he began to dabble in local politics.”
verb + prep + noun
04. enjoy dabbling
“He enjoys dabbling in DIY projects around the house.”
verb + gerund
Adjective
05. brief dabbling
“After a brief dabbling in coding, she returned to graphic design.”
adj + noun
06. casual dabbling
“His casual dabbling in photography turned into a serious weekend hobby.”
adj + noun
07. occasional dabbling
“Her occasional dabbling in baking keeps weekends fun and relaxed.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. bit of dabbling
“After a bit of dabbling in guitar, he joined a local band.”
noun + prep + noun
09. spell of dabbling
“She had a brief spell of dabbling in acting at university.”
noun + prep + noun
10. dabble in local politics
“After retiring, she began to dabble in local politics.”
11. dabble in the stock market
“He dabbled in the stock market just to learn the basics.”
12. just dabbling for fun
“I'm not serious, I'm just dabbling for fun.”
Usage
Takes the preposition 'in' before the activity ('dabble in music').
Pitfall
dabbling painting
dabbling in painting
Dabble takes 'in' before the activity; the preposition cannot be omitted.
Real-World Examples
“On Broken Chair and One Song Away from Crying she dabbles in bubbling 80s synthpop, while the murkier Make Believe grows slowly overcast.” “That restless spirit propelled Prince’s final masterpiece, 1987’s Sign o’ the Times, as he dabbled with different directions.” “Sheeran loves to dabble in the music of other cultures to present a toothless pan-global vision of togetherness lifted from the latter-day Coldplay playbook.” “M aisie Williams has dabbled in witchcraft exactly once.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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