fiddle with
phrasal verb
fiddled with; fiddling with; fiddles with
1
: to move or handle (something) with the hands or fingers in a nervous way
She was nervously fiddling with her pencil as she waited for the test to start.
2
: to change or handle (something, such as the controls of a machine) in a way that shows one is not sure what to do
He was fiddling with the controls of the television, trying to get it to work.
3
: to change (something) in a harmful or foolish way
It became clear that someone had fiddled with the equipment.
Examples of fiddle with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the delay in filming, Hexum reportedly became anxious and started fiddling with the gun.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The league will launch three new stats during the 2025-26 season based on its player tracking data that could increase access to the information teams have been fiddling with for years.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The result is a minimalist, and amusing, website, with models who move around, sit on handmade chairs, fiddle with their hair, and play around with the clothes.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
To be sure, Congress has fiddled with the deduction from time to time, especially in recent years.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddle with
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Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The league will launch three new stats during the 2025-26 season based on its player tracking data that could increase access to the information teams have been fiddling with for years.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The result is a minimalist, and amusing, website, with models who move around, sit on handmade chairs, fiddle with their hair, and play around with the clothes.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
To be sure, Congress has fiddled with the deduction from time to time, especially in recent years.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddle with
Cite this Entry
“Fiddle with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle%20with. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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