How to Use dab in a Sentence

dab

1 of 2 noun
Definition of dabnext
Synonyms for dabnext
  • Secure the lid in place with a dab of glue around the edges.
    — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 14 Mar. 2021
  • Topped it with a few taco toppings and a dab of sour cream.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 July 2023
  • Put just a dab on them and blend VERY gently with a sponge.
    — Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 31 Jan. 2023
  • In a subtly chic choice, the har gow, or shrimp dumplings, are topped with a dab of black caviar and gold leaf.
    — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023
  • Lance’s iconic dab was there right from his first scene.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 25 May 2023
  • Put a dab of water on one of the bottom corners (the filling side, not the seam side).
    — cleveland, 29 Nov. 2022
  • Don’t forget to add a dab of icing and a Red Hot for a doorknob.
    — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 30 Nov. 2022
  • Cut cake into wedges and serve with a dab of creme fraiche, if desired.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2021
  • The Puffco Hot Knife simplifies the process, working as a dab tool to load the rig.
    — A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 11 June 2021
  • Again, dabs of hot sauce turned to splashes, which became pools.
    — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
  • The fried pieces of dough are stuffed full with delicate blue crab that just need a kiss of lemon and a dab of the aioli for the perfect bite.
    — Megan Dubois, Chron, 14 Mar. 2023
  • Sprinkle with olive oil and add a dab of the balsamic vinegar.
    — Ted Weesner, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2023
  • Place two small dabs of mustard on the snake’s head and top with peppercorns to create eyes.
    — Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 27 July 2023
  • Apply a small dab of the shampoo to wet hair, before rinsing off.
    — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Oct. 2022
  • Before those meets, the company would spruce things up — a touch of paint here, a dab of plaster there.
    — New York Times, 22 July 2022
  • Apply all over damp hair post-shower and on dry hair, glide a small dab over strands to smooth and shape as needed.
    — Dori Price, Good Housekeeping, 3 June 2022
  • Keep in mind that a little goes a long way here, so a simple quarter-sized dab of pomade will do.
    — Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 1 Feb. 2023
  • For a beautiful sheer pop of metallic dab with your finger or a fluffy brush.
    — Katie Intner, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Dec. 2022
  • Correct the seasoning with salt and pepper, and add a small dab of Dijon mustard and a speck of cayenne.
    — David Tanis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2023
  • Easter Egg Tip: To prevent the pipe cleaner from slipping off the egg, secure with a dab of glue at the top and bottom.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
  • But, through the tears, curse words and laughter, Holland successfully finished the 10 spicy wings and the last dab.
    — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE.com, 9 Dec. 2021
  • The tiniest dab works quickly to soften your winter-dry skin yet is non-greasy.
    — Sam Peters, ELLE, 23 Dec. 2022
  • Before release, the researchers mark the koalas with a dab of pink dye on their backs, to ensure the same animals aren’t caught twice.
    — Christina Larson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023
  • Rub a dab of castor oil between hands and glide a very thin layer over frizz-prone areas on dry hair.
    — Andrea Cheng, Good Housekeeping, 30 Nov. 2022
  • This Strawberry Pavlova recipe calls in a splash of lemon juice, a dab of lemon zest, a drip of vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher salt.
    — Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme, Bon Appétit, 17 July 2023
  • After a little work with a wet paper towel and a dab of dish soap, there was no leftover residue or stains on the chair.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
  • Red clamps and blue tape take credit for the hard work done by secret dabs of glue, while other yips of color compete with the gray floors, and lose.
    — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2023
  • Lather your head with a moisturizer, but with a small dab.
    — Joseph Cheatham, Men's Health, 11 June 2023
  • Consumers could simply apply the makeup multi-tasking sticks with a dab or a swipe here, and a smudge there.
    — Karin Eldor, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
  • Apply a tiny dab of white paste toothpaste (not gel) to your finger or a soft cloth and very gently rub it on the tarnished silver.
    — Lauren Smith McDonough, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
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dab

2 of 2 verb
  • Liquid stains rolled off and were easy for testers to dab up.
    — Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2023
  • Gently dab lemon juice on the stain to help break down oils in the chocolate.
    — Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
  • So, wait no longer to dab on gobs of goodness on your skin.
    — Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 7 Feb. 2023
  • Once the stain appears to have been lifted, dab the area dry with a clean cloth or sponge.
    — Noma Nazish, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
  • Dip and then wring out a rag and gently dab or wipe the sticky areas.
    — Motormouth Bob Weber, Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
  • Use a spoon to dab or drizzle it onto the rice (not the chicken).
    — Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024
  • The crowd got a showstopper, from the artist smack dab in the middle of that night’s lineup.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
  • Prevent snags by dabbing hot glue on the back of the rug to secure loose ends.
    — Amber Wagner, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Just dab in acetone and use it to clean up your cute designs.
    — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, 23 Dec. 2020
  • Sluice with vinegar, dab with chile, eat, wipe the sweat from your brow and repeat.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
  • Even cooler, there’s a stretch of sand smack dab in the middle of one of the lakes that’s complete with a fire pit.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2023
  • So Judy got out her powder puff to dab her eyes, then gave it to Liza with her tears on it.
    — Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
  • The jolliest time of year is also smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 14 Dec. 2023
  • Kick back, grab a beer, and dab some of this liquid gold on your next burger recipe.
    — Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 15 Nov. 2022
  • Then, lightly dab it onto the most parched areas of your hair.
    — Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
  • Load a tiny amount of paint onto the tips of the brush and dab it onto the brick at a right angle with a clean in-and-out motion.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2022
  • Glue its two pieces together and then dab some glue on the angled edge.
    — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 30 Nov. 2022
  • Take the crust off a slice, roll the remainder into a sponge, and dab it against the offending mark to lift it.
    — Jenny Xie, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2022
  • The railway departs from Milford, New York — a quaint little town smack dab in the middle of the state.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
  • Lilit closed her eyes while cutting the onions, and Reggie gently dabbed her tears.
    — Nasha Smith, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
  • Stephens suddenly found that his acreage was smack dab in the best place in the world to apply these new techniques.
    — Christopher Helman, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
  • Then pour a small amount of gold, pearl, or black polish onto a piece of foil and dab a sponge into the polish.
    — Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2023
  • If dabbing a rosy shade of blush on the apples of your cheeks can bring your face to life, imagine what three shades of blush could do.
    — Annie Blay, Allure, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Instead, moisten a corner of a soft cloth and dab the solution on with that.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022
  • Smack dab in the middle is the great room, which feels reminiscent of an atrium and acts as an anchor for the rest of the home.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2024
  • Use a clean makeup remover pad or cotton round to dab at the stain until it's gone.
    — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 7 Mar. 2021
  • Once the stain is removed, dab the area with another damp cloth to rinse thoroughly and blot dry.
    — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
  • The Ashley, Bridget or Erin had tried to do something about her mouth, dab it with lip gloss, but the makeup had not helped.
    — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
  • Carefully take your cotton ball and blot or dab the area (do not smear) with acetone.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023
  • There was a point in my high school career, smack dab in the middle of the 2010s—the dog days of the Indie Sleaze Era—where a certain pair of boots became all the rage.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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