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⇱ scribbling - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

scribbling

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈskrɪblɪŋ/

From the verb scribble: (⇒ conjugate)
scribbling is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
scrib•ble1 /ˈskrɪbəl/USA pronunciation   v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v. 
  1. to write quickly and carelessly: [~ + object]to scribble a letter.[no object]scribbling in his notebook.

n. 
  1. [countable] a hasty drawing or piece of writing.
  2. [uncountable] handwriting that is hard to read.
scrib•bler, n. [countable]See -scrib-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
scrib•ble1  (skrib′əl),USA pronunciation v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v.t. 
  1. to write hastily or carelessly:to scribble a letter.
  2. to cover with meaningless writing or marks:to scribble all over a page.

v.i. 
  1. to write or draw in a hasty or careless way.
  2. to make meaningless marks, scrolls, lines, etc., with a pencil, pen, or the like.

n. 
  1. a note or other writing that has little or no meaning.
  2. a hasty or careless drawing or piece of writing.
  3. handwriting, esp. when illegible.
  • Medieval Latin scrībillāre to scribble, derivative of Latin scrībere to write; see shrive
  • late Middle English scribblen (verb, verbal) 1425–75
scrib′bling•ly, adv. 

scrib•ble2  (skrib′əl),USA pronunciation v.t., -bled, -bling. 
  1. Textilesto tear apart (wool fibers) in the first stages of carding.
  • Dutch schribbelen to scratch; cognate with schrobbelen to card wool coarsely, frequentative of schrobben to scrub1
  • 1675–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
scribble /ˈskrɪbəl/ vb
  1. to write or draw in a hasty or illegible manner
  2. to make meaningless or illegible marks (on)
  3. derogatory or facetious to write (poetry, novels, etc)
 n
  1. hasty careless writing or drawing
  2. meaningless or illegible marks
Etymology: 15th Century: from Medieval Latin scrībillāre to write hastily, from Latin scrībere to writeˈscribbly adj
'scribbling' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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Look up "scribbling" at Merriam-Webster
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