Dabble

To participate in an activity in a casual or superficial way; to work or involve oneself in something without serious intent or commitment. It often implies exploring an interest or skill without aiming for mastery or deep understanding. Dabbling suggests a lighthearted, experimental approach, often for enjoyment or preliminary exploration, rather than focused professional or dedicated pursuit. It frequently indicates a temporary or intermittent involvement, with no long-term goals in mind, making it a softer, less intense action than committed or serious engagement.

Dabble meaning with examples

• She enjoyed **dabbling** in watercolors during the weekends, experimenting with different techniques, but had no intention of becoming a professional artist. Her focus was on the creative process rather than career prospects, and her style often changed. Each painting a new attempt at innovation.
• He decided to dabble in programming, taking online courses and writing simple code. His goal was to understand basic computer functions, not pursue a software development career, it was simply a recreational interest. New projects always kept him engaged.
• Before committing to a full garden, she **dabbled** in growing herbs on her windowsill, learning about different plants. The smell of the herbs, a scent she loved, inspired a sense of enjoyment that she was glad to experience. She enjoyed it so much, she had to continue.
• The history student chose to dabble in amateur photography, photographing historic locations. It let him discover different techniques with his camera and helped him with the historical settings. His enjoyment of the history and photography grew rapidly.
• Instead of enrolling in a formal cooking class, he preferred to dabble with recipes online, learning new skills as he went along. He wanted to master a few recipes as opposed to learning too much. The flavor of his meals steadily improved over time.