nibble
1 of 2verb
nib·ble ˈni-bəl 
nibbled; nibbling ˈni-b(ə-)liŋ
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
noun nibble
2 of 2noun
1
: an act of nibbling
2
: a very small quantity or portion (as of food)
also : snack
3
: a tentative expression of interest
Synonyms
Verb
- peck
- pick
Noun
- bite
- morsel
- mouthful
- nugget
- taste
- tidbit
- titbit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Connie Wang, refinery29.com, 7 Sep. 2022 For the full experience, serve it with warm pita, feta and fresh herbs to nibble on between spoonfuls. Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2022 Yellow jackets hunt caterpillars, grubs and will even nibble your burger for sustenance. Bethany Brookshire, Good Housekeeping, 18 June 2022 And China is likely to be playing the long game, analysts said, using its gray zone tactics to nibble away at US influence gradually. Brad Lendon, CNN, 10 June 2022 Food Since this party centers around the television and not the table, keep the food easy to eat so everyone can nibble while watching the show and catching up with friends. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2021 And like any good Italian household, there’s always a little something to nibble on. Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2021 Keep this arrangement where your furry friends can't nibble on it—poinsettia leaves can be toxic to pets. Natalie Dayton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2021 This is for dark chocolate lovers and people who prefer to nibble on chocolate, which is not me. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 24 Nov. 2021 Mary Bergin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2020 Drinks were modeled after the four elements—Air, Earth, Fire, and Water—and enjoyed before guests moved into the ballroom for delectable and warming nibbles such as truffle lobster risotto and the signature chicken pie. Vogue, 30 Nov. 2018 He was even permitted a few nibbles of the grass lawn. oregonlive, 2 May 2020 Stores are looking closely at developing curbside-pickup-delivery initiatives, so the toothpick-spearing days for a nibble of diced cheese, cube of meat or dessert cup with tiny plastic spoon are in the past to stay. Marc Bona, cleveland, 26 Apr. 2020 Some smelled it, licked it, or took tiny nibbles around the edges. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2020 From the welcoming glass of Krug champagne to the final nibble of Indian sweets from Masala Munchies, guests were treated to a three-course dinner that showcased Houston's cultural diversity. Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, 5 Oct. 2019 Frilly tea, please Just about now, who doesn’t want to go escape somewhere with friends, yummy nibbles and butterflies on your plate?Neiman Marcus is bringing high tea to its Zodiac Room in its Downtown Dallas store. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2020 Just remember that any plant can cause stomach upset and vomiting if your pet nibbles on it, so keep an eye on your pets with all your indoor plants and indoor trees. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 24 Jan. 2020 See More
Verb
After her elaborate preparations, my mother would nibble on whatever was left on the cores and pits by the sink before joining us at the table. Connie Wang, refinery29.com, 7 Sep. 2022 For the full experience, serve it with warm pita, feta and fresh herbs to nibble on between spoonfuls. Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2022 Yellow jackets hunt caterpillars, grubs and will even nibble your burger for sustenance. Bethany Brookshire, Good Housekeeping, 18 June 2022 And China is likely to be playing the long game, analysts said, using its gray zone tactics to nibble away at US influence gradually. Brad Lendon, CNN, 10 June 2022 Food Since this party centers around the television and not the table, keep the food easy to eat so everyone can nibble while watching the show and catching up with friends. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2021 And like any good Italian household, there’s always a little something to nibble on. Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2021 Keep this arrangement where your furry friends can't nibble on it—poinsettia leaves can be toxic to pets. Natalie Dayton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2021 This is for dark chocolate lovers and people who prefer to nibble on chocolate, which is not me. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 24 Nov. 2021 Noun
Bavarian tavern snack: Some longtime Wisconsin taverns and supper clubs still offer patrons a free nibble of crackers and cheese, and the cheese spreads pay homage mostly to cheddar. Mary Bergin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2020 Drinks were modeled after the four elements—Air, Earth, Fire, and Water—and enjoyed before guests moved into the ballroom for delectable and warming nibbles such as truffle lobster risotto and the signature chicken pie. Vogue, 30 Nov. 2018 He was even permitted a few nibbles of the grass lawn. oregonlive, 2 May 2020 Stores are looking closely at developing curbside-pickup-delivery initiatives, so the toothpick-spearing days for a nibble of diced cheese, cube of meat or dessert cup with tiny plastic spoon are in the past to stay. Marc Bona, cleveland, 26 Apr. 2020 Some smelled it, licked it, or took tiny nibbles around the edges. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2020 From the welcoming glass of Krug champagne to the final nibble of Indian sweets from Masala Munchies, guests were treated to a three-course dinner that showcased Houston's cultural diversity. Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, 5 Oct. 2019 Frilly tea, please Just about now, who doesn’t want to go escape somewhere with friends, yummy nibbles and butterflies on your plate?Neiman Marcus is bringing high tea to its Zodiac Room in its Downtown Dallas store. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2020 Just remember that any plant can cause stomach upset and vomiting if your pet nibbles on it, so keep an eye on your pets with all your indoor plants and indoor trees. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 24 Jan. 2020 See More 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
Phrases Containing nibble
Kids Definition
nibble 1 of 2
verb
nib·ble ˈni-bəl
nibbled; nibbling
: to bite or chew gently or bit by bit
nibble
2 of 2noun
: a very small amount
nibbles 1 of 2
noun
as in bites
a small piece or quantity of food I don't want a whole dessert, so can I just have a nibble of yours? Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bites
- mouthfuls
- tastes
- snacks
- morsels
- tidbits
- titbits
- nuggets
- canapés
- bits
- appetizers
- noshes
- gulps
- chews
- crumbs
- touches
- medallions
- collops
- dribbles
- noisettes
- dashes
- licks
- snippets
- swallows
- scraps
- hints
- snips
- spots
- drops
- shreds
- swigs
- laps
- dabs
- flecks
- sprinklings
- pinches
- particles
- motes
- specks
- nubbins
- driblets
- scruples
- smidges
- smidgeons
- suspicions
- hors d'oeuvres
- smidgens
- smidgins
- hors d'oeuvre
- tittles
- traces
nibbles
2 of 2verb
1
as in snacks
to eat reluctantly and in small bites having no real appetite at all, I just nibbled during the party Synonyms & Similar Words
- snacks
- pecks
- noshes
- picks
- tastes
- grazes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- swills
- overeats
- gorges
- gormandizes
- pigs out
2
as in chews
to crush or grind with the teeth nibbling crackers Synonyms & Similar Words
- chews
- eats
- snacks
- snacks
- masticates
- chaws
- munches
- noshes
- champs
- consumes
- chomps (on)
- bites (on)
- swallows
- gnaws (on)
- crunches (on)
- gulps
- ruminates
- devours
- sinks one's teeth into
- scarfs
- wolfs
- scoffs
- nips
- mumbles
- ingests
- gorges
- gums
- bolts
- gobbles (up or down)
- picks (at)
- pecks (at)
3
as in eats
to consume or wear away gradually discovered that inflation had steadily nibbled their savings Synonyms & Similar Words
- eats
- erodes
- gnaws
- corrodes
- bites (at)
- destroys
- frets
- decomposes
- disintegrates
- wastes
- dissolves
- wrecks
- ruins
- breaks down
- breaks up
- decimates
- devastates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refreshes
- restores
- regenerates
- freshens
- revives
- refreshens
- revitalizes
- recreates
- renews
- rejuvenates