Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dibs

/dɪbz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.83 in modern English

Syllables: dibs
IPA: /dɪbz/

7

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.

Informal; Uncountable

intj

Used to claim this right.

Informal

verb

To claim a temporary right to (something); to reserve.

Informal

noun

A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East.

Dated; Uncountable

noun

noun

A child's game, played with dib bones or stones, throwing them up from one's palm and catching them on the back of the hand.

Obsolete

noun

Archaic; Slang

noun

Example Sentences

"I call dibs on the hammock!"
"He called dibs on batting first."
"Who's got dibs on the chips?"
"Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said."
"It aims to give unionized California government workers "more workplace discipline protections and first dibs on state government work," as the Sacramento Bee put it."
"Besides what is thus consumed, the village makes about 180,000 pounds of raisins , one third of which is for home consumption , and about 24,000 pounds of dibs, ( grape molasses , ) all of which is for home use"

Etymology

Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib (“to tap”) or related to northern English dip (“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /dɪbz/

Usage

Inflected Forms

dibses (present, singular) dibsing (participle, present) dibsed (participle, past) dibsed (past)

Phrases

first dibs

Synonyms

bags bagsy

Rhymes With

ribs gibbs cribs bibs nibs tibbs hibbs cribbs bibbs dribs

Questions

How do you pronounce dibs?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪbz/.
What does dibs mean?: The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
Where does dibs come from?: Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib (“to tap”) or related to northern English dip (“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.

How to pronounce dibs

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “dibs”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪbz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “dibs”.
Repeat and practice — Say “dibs” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.