What does nibbling mean?
“Nibbling” means biting or eating something in small, repeated bites. It is also used figuratively for making small, cautious reductions or changes to money, plans, resources, or arrangements: a company may nibble away at a budget, or negotiations may nibble at the terms of an agreement. The word can suggest tentativeness and incompleteness, as though progress is being made only in tiny increments. In another figurative use, something difficult or unsettling may nibble at a person's confidence or peace of mind. The expression is natural in both everyday conversation and formal writing, though the literal sense is especially associated with food and small bites.
verbTo bite or eat something in small, repeated bites. It can also mean to make small reductions or cautious changes to something, especially money or a plan.
- To bite or eat something in small, repeated bites.
- To make small reductions or cautious changes to something, especially money, resources, or a plan.
- To hesitate or proceed only slightly in an uncertain situation.
"She nibbled at the edge of her sandwich while reading the newspaper."
"The child nibbled his way through the biscuit."
"The company was slowly nibbling away at its budget."
"The negotiations had begun to nibble at the agreement's original terms."
The word “nibble” evokes the tiny, tentative bites of a small animal—and, figuratively, the cautious increments by which a difficult problem may be tackled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nibbling come from?
“Nibble” developed in English in the early 16th century and is connected with “nib,” the pointed part of a pen or similar instrument. The connection is not simply literal, but the word's history suggests the idea of taking small bites or making small incisions. Its meaning later extended figuratively to cautious, incremental action.
Related word forms
How nibbling is actually used
“Nibble” and its inflected forms are common in both formal and informal English. The figurative sense often implies gradual, cautious, or incomplete action rather than a decisive one.