What does "dibs" mean?
The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
Dibs
intj, name, noun, verb, slang
intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·1 syllable ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
- Grammar: dibs is listed as intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: claim, claiming utterance, entitlement, first claim.
- Useful contrasts: disclaimer, forfeit, loss of claim.
- Usage evidence: If you ever decide to sell your old record collection, I want first dibs!
How to use "dibs"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dibs" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dibs" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dibs" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dibs" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dibs" is acting as intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "claim" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dibs", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else. informal, uncountable
"I call dibs on the hammock!"
- 2 A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. dated, uncountable
"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"
- 3 plural of dib form-of, plural
- 4 plural of DIB form-of, plural
- 5 a claim of rights wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 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
- 7 Money. archaic, slang
"Get hold of the dibs, says he, and then you are bound to be right."
Verb
- 1 To claim a temporary right to (something); to reserve. informal
Intj
- 1 Used to claim this right. informal
Proper Noun
- 1 plural of Dib form-of, plural
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"If you ever decide to sell your old record collection, I want first dibs!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dibs"?
Common synonyms include: claim, claiming utterance, entitlement, first claim, it's mine, my turn.
How do you use "dibs" in a sentence?
If you ever decide to sell your old record collection, I want first dibs!
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
From Arabic دِبْس (dibs).