- present participle of dab.
dabbing
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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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
“He never told anyone what to say,” she said, occasionally dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she spoke.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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
“There’d better be something wonderful at the end of this trail,” said Horace, dabbing sweat from his forehead.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
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"It's very dreadful," Mrs. Hardy was saying, between dabbings of her perfumed handkerchief on eyes that bore witness to the genuineness of her distress.
From The Cow Puncher by Stead, Robert J. C.