dab
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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For the last few days, smack dab in the middle of his long-awaited breakthrough at USC, Arenas was sick.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026
"People don't realise, but cod was not the go-to fish when fish and chip shops started about 160 years ago," he said, revealing that it was dab that first made up a fish supper.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
Already in her still relatively short career, Elle Fanning has managed to position herself smack dab in the center of these two polarities, the perfect combination of classic Hollywood and new age celebrity.
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
Her son gently tries to dab it away with a tissue as a nurse comes by with a blood pressure stand.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2025
I brush my teeth, curl my hair, manicure my nails and dab peroxide on my upper lip to bleach the black hairs—all this in less than half an hour.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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Iron-straight defence, dabs to third man and shuffles off the hips.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025
We’re not talking about traditional formulaic “landscapes” of yore — SoCal tract homes swathed in lawns edged with nondescript shrubs and dabs of annual color bought at big-box nurseries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2025
Martha Stewart doesn't do warts, but Cutler edits a wry irony into the artful coverage she dabs on her blemishes, like her refusal to count her marital infidelity as equivalent to that of her husband.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024
A selection of all white suits, jackets and lace dresses also featured in the spring/summer 2024 collection, as did dabs of leopard print on shiny macs and dresses.
From Reuters ● Sep. 23, 2023
He ignores me, and dabs my forehead again.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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In the rear open kitchen, Manon Fleury turned humble winter produce into memorable dishes: Fried sweet-potato threads mimicked a mini funnel cake, dabbed with loquat jam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
Afterwards Nawat appeared at a press conference wearing a tuxedo and openly weeping as he theatrically dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, claiming he had been "betrayed".
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2025
He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's pace.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2025
Kingston and his mother dabbed away tears as the verdict came down, according to NBC News.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2025
She dabbed at her eyes with her towel.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
We see through her eyes an assistant dabbing moisturizer on her hand, art installers asking where she wants a large sculpture, a man cleaning her pool who greets her.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
She coped by dabbing at her face with a small navy blue towel that magically appeared from under the table.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025
Inside, women are dabbing moisturizers, sampling eye shadows and swabbing lipsticks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
"You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have," she said, dabbing away tears and occasionally pausing to collect herself.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
“Only way to eat a steak,” Grandpa said, dabbing his mouth with a linen napkin.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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