nibble

1 of 2

verb

nib·ble ˈni-bəl

nibbled; nibbling ˈni-b(ə-)liŋ

Synonyms of nibble

transitive verb

: to bite gently

: to eat or chew in small bits

: to take away bit by bit

waves nibbling the shore

intransitive verb

: to take gentle, small, or cautious bites

also : snack

: to deal with something as if by nibbling

nibbler

ˈni-b(ə-)lər

noun

nibble

2 of 2

noun

: an act of nibbling

: a very small quantity or portion (as of food)

also : snack

: a tentative expression of interest

Synonyms of nibble

Relevance

Verb

snack
peck

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

Why Moles Can Be Problematic While moles won’t nibble on your plants like other critters would, their tunneling can upend your plants’ roots. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 2026 Genji's favorite activities include meeting new people, obsessing over his toys and nibbling on cheese. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

For a curious cat or dog, a quick nibble or brush against the wrong bloom can turn a little botanical mischief into a serious medical emergency. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 In This Article From rabbits to squirrels, protecting our gardens from nibbles and bites is a season-long endeavor. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nibble. Accessed 4 Sep. 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

nibble

verb

noun

Synonyms of nibble

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition

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nibble

verb

noun

Synonyms of nibble

Examples of nibble in a Sentence

Word History

Phrases Containing nibble

Rhymes for nibble

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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