dabbling
Trying things superficially
Dabbling is casual, shallow engagement with something—trying it without serious commitment.
Someone dabbles in painting or dabbles in stocks without dedicating themselves fully: He's been dabbling in photography lately.
The word carries a mild dismissiveness, suggesting amateur status.
Literally, to dabble is to splash about in shallow water, as ducks do when feeding at the surface.
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
- dilettanteSuperficial pursuer of arts
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
- tinkererHobbyist who adjusts mechanisms
dallying · casual · superficial · uncommitted · half-hearted · recreational · weekend · part-time
Liquid striking noisily
- wadingTraversing shallow water on foot
- paddlingStroking water with blades
- duckWaterbird that quacks
- puddleShallow collected rainwater
pond · shallow · wetland · rippling · waterfowl · marsh · bill · dipping
Casual, unskilled adjusting
- tryingCausing strain or frustration
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- testingExamining to evaluate
- toyingHandling carelessly or idly
exploring · playing · flirting · venturing · attempting · trial · taste · exposure
Recreational pursuit
- leisureFree time for relaxation
- craftsHandmade artistic works
- gardeningTending plants recreationally
- paintingPigment on canvas
photography · woodworking · pottery · knitting · birdwatching · homebrewing · collecting · baking
novice
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
- dilettanteSuperficial pursuer of arts
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
tinkerer · dallying · casual · superficial · uncommitted · half-hearted · recreational · weekend · part-time · nonprofessional
splashing
Liquid striking noisily
puddle · pond · shallow · wetland · rippling · waterfowl · marsh · bill · dipping · preening
tinkering
Casual, unskilled adjusting
toying · exploring · playing · flirting · venturing · attempting · trial · taste · exposure · foray
pastime
Recreational pursuit
painting · photography · woodworking · pottery · knitting · birdwatching · homebrewing · collecting · baking · calligraphy
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- tinkeringfiddling, puttering, pottering, tweaking, fussing
- Waterfowlduck, goose, swan, mallard, drake
- duck pondducks, mallard, drake, duckling, duckweed
- partial actionsstarting, beginning, attempting, trying, sampling
- hobbiesknitting circles, skateboarding, model trains, write, writing
dabblingimmersing
Plunging completely into
dedicating · committing · specializing · devoting · deep diving
dabblingprofessionalizing
Making into formal occupation
professional practice · making a career of · vocation · career
dabblingmastering
Attaining full command
expertise · mastery · professionalism · specialization · virtuosity