Word
drivel
Phoneticsdriv·el, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɹɪvəɫ/
UK/dɹˈɪvəl/
US spelling · driveled
Definitions
01nonsense
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. silly talk or writing that is annoying because it is not useful or smart.
n. nonsense; trivial, senseless, or worthless talk or writing.
“I couldn't finish the book because it was just pure drivel.”
“The critic dismissed the screenplay as sentimental drivel, arguing that it lacked any genuine emotional depth or structural integrity.”
02to talk nonsense
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to talk for a long time about things that are not important or do not make sense.
v. to utter or write nonsense; to speak in a foolish or rambling manner.
“Stop driveling on about your car and listen to what I am saying.”
“He spent the entire dinner driveling on about minor office politics, oblivious to the growing boredom of his guests.”
03saliva
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic
n. an old word for spit or liquid coming out of the mouth.
n. saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; drool.
“The old dog had a bit of drivel on its chin.”
“The physician noted the constant flow of drivel from the patient's mouth, a symptom of the advanced neurological decline.”
Real-World Examples
“Inevitably, even WandaVision had to descend into standard superhero drivel at some point.” Etymology
From Middle English dravel, dribil, a deverbal from drevelen, drivelen (Etymology 2).
From Middle English drevelen, drivelen, from Old English dreflian (“to drivel, slobber, slaver”), from Proto-Germanic drablijaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰerebʰ- (“cloudy, turbid; yeast”).
From Middle English drivel, probably from driven + -el, unless borrowed from an equivalent word in another West Germanic language. Compare Old Dutch drevel (“scullion”).
Perhaps a blend of drive + dribble.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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