noun
- a person who engages in an activity or subject in a superficial or casual way, without serious commitment or deep knowledge
- a duck or other waterfowl that feeds by dabbling, tipping forward to eat plants and insects from shallow water
Usage: often used with a slightly negative connotation to suggest lack of expertise or dedication
Usage: ornithological term
Examples
- He's just a dabbler in photography; he hasn't invested in serious equipment yet.
- She tried painting, music, and writing, but remained a dabbler in all of them.
- The mallard is a common dabbler found in ponds and shallow lakes.
- Unlike professional chefs, home cooks are often dabblers experimenting with new recipes.
- Dabblers in philosophy may read popular books but rarely study the subject deeply.
- The dabbler spent a few weeks learning guitar before moving on to something else.