What does blabbed mean?
"Blabbed" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "blab," an informal English word meaning to reveal a secret or confidential information through careless or excessive talking. When someone has blabbed, they have let slip something that was meant to be kept quiet — a surprise party plan, private gossip, sensitive business news — usually through indiscretion rather than deliberate betrayal. The word carries a mildly critical connotation, suggesting the speaker is untrustworthy with secrets or simply talks too much, though the tone can range from playful teasing among friends to genuine reproach. It appears frequently in everyday speech on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly in contexts involving children tattling or adults divulging confidences. Related forms include "blab," "blabbing," "blabber," and the noun "blabbermouth," a colloquial term for someone habitually unable to keep quiet.
verbPast tense and past participle of "blab": to reveal secret or confidential information indiscreetly, especially by talking too freely.
- To reveal a secret or confidential information carelessly or indiscreetly.
- (Less commonly) to talk too much or indiscreetly in general.
"She blabbed the surprise party plans to the guest of honour."
"Someone blabbed the merger details to a journalist before the announcement."
"He blabbed to his sister about the engagement before they'd told their parents."
"Blab" is one of those rare English words that has meant exactly the same thing for over four centuries — loose lips have been 'blabbing' since the days of Shakespeare.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blabbed
The verb "blab" arose in English during the late Middle English period, attested by the mid-15th century, likely as a variant or blend related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German "plappern"-type words meaning to chatter — echoic formations imitating the sound of babbling speech. It has carried its sense of revealing secrets since at least the 16th century, when Shakespeare and his contemporaries put it to regular use. The frequentative form "blabber" developed from it, giving rise to the modern colloquial compound "blabbermouth."
Related word forms
How blabbed is actually used
Informal register throughout; the word carries a mildly disapproving connotation of unreliability or thoughtlessness rather than malice. Common in both British and American English, often used of children tattling or adults letting slip confidential information.
Easily confused with blabbed
"Blobbed" means formed or covered into blobs (round drops), while "blabbed" means revealed secrets through talk.