nibble

1 of 2

verb

nib·​ble ˈni-bəl How to pronounce nibble (audio)
nibbled; nibbling ˈni-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce nibble (audio)
Synonyms of nibble

transitive verb

1
a
: to bite gently
b
: to eat or chew in small bits
2
: to take away bit by bit
waves nibbling the shore

intransitive verb

1
: to take gentle, small, or cautious bites
also : snack
2
: to deal with something as if by nibbling
nibbler
ˈni-b(ə-)lər How to pronounce nibble (audio)
noun

nibble

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of nibbling
2
: a very small quantity or portion (as of food)
also : snack
3
: a tentative expression of interest

Synonyms of nibble

Relevance

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Verb We nibbled cheese and crackers. We nibbled on some cheese and crackers before dinner. Noun He felt a nibble on his fishing line. They served some delicious nibbles before dinner.
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.
Verb
Kikuko, her appetite sluggish, nibbled the bread bit by bit from the edges, all the while furtively watching her father. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Afternoon lemonade and homemade treats are laid out for guests to nibble on before dinner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
Noun
Chipmunks dig in planters to bury food or nibble on bulbs and foliage. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 And the consequences of a curious nibble can range from vomiting to emergency surgery to death. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nibble

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nibble was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing nibble

Rhymes for nibble

See All Rhymes for nibble

Browse Nearby Words

nibber
nibble
nibble (away) at
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nibble. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nibble

verb
nib·​ble
ˈnib-əl
nibbled; nibbling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to bite or chew gently or bit by bit
nibble noun
nibbler
-(ə-)lər
noun

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