stubble

noun

stub·​ble ˈstə-bəl How to pronounce stubble (audio)
often attributive
1
: the basal part of herbaceous plants and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the soil after harvest
2
: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble
especially : a short growth of beard
stubbled adjective
stubbly adjective

Examples of stubble in a Sentence

He ran his hand over his stubble.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With his keffiyeh, aviator sunglasses, and beard stubble, Arafat first received media attention in the 1960s and 1970s, when the PLO was hijacking airplanes and perpetrating terrorist attacks. Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 Bono turns his head and pulls off his tinted glasses, the profile of his aquiline nose and hint of stubble on his chin drawing your attention. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 20 May 2025 Smith, who has salt-and-pepper hair and silver stubble, has spent much of the past year raising capital and traipsing around the Mediterranean, looking for a square kilometre of coastal land that could fit a thousand houses and offer optimum beach access and airport proximity. Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 But using one of the best razors cuts down on the guesswork—and nicks, redness, and stubble. Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stubble

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stuble, from Anglo-French estuble, from Latin stupula stalk, straw, alteration of stipula — more at stipule

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stubble was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stubble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stubble. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

stubble

noun
stub·​ble ˈstəb-əl How to pronounce stubble (audio)
1
: the stem ends of herbs and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the ground after harvest
2
: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble
stubbly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on stubble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!