tip-off

1 of 2

noun (1)

Synonyms of tip-offnext
1
2
: a telltale sign

tip-off

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the act or an instance of putting the ball in play in basketball by a jump ball

Synonyms of tip-off

Examples of tip-off in a Sentence

Noun (1) the retreat of the island's wildlife to higher ground was a tip-off that a tsunami was about to strike
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
With parties, gallery openings, and brand activations afoot, Forbes caught up with the Heat’s most stylish leading men there, talking fashion between fits and tip-off. Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026 The Bulls average more than 20,000 fans at the United Center, but there were plenty of empty seats at tip-off, which came 30 minutes after the Los Angeles Rams and Bears kicked off their NFC division round game a few miles away at Soldier Field. CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026 Dickinson recalled a tip-off years ago that architectural photographer Tom Yee had a massive trove of architectural photos, including images of Rudolph works. Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 13 Jan. 2026 Starting 5 About an hour prior to tip-off, the Magic ruled out forward Tristan da Silva due to back spasms. Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tip-off

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

tip entry 8

Noun (2)

tip entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tip-off was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tip-off. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

tip-off

1 of 2 noun
ˈtip-ˌȯf
1
: a warning that something is going to happen
2
: a telltale sign

tip-off

2 of 2 noun
: the start of a basketball game when the ball is thrown in the air and a player from each team jumps up and tries to get the ball

More from Merriam-Webster on tip-off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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