dip

1 of 5

verb

dipped; dipping; dips

transitive verb

1
a
: to plunge or immerse momentarily or partially under the surface (as of a liquid) so as to moisten, cool, or coat
dip candles
b
: to thrust in a way to suggest immersion
c
: to immerse (an animal, such as a sheep or dog) in an antiseptic or parasiticidal solution
2
a
: to lift a portion of by reaching below the surface with something shaped to hold liquid : ladle
b
: to take a portion of (snuff)
3
a
archaic : involve
b
4
a
: to lower and then raise again
dip a flag in salute
b
chiefly British : dim sense 1
5
: to place a pinch of (tobacco) between the lip or cheek and gum
He quit dipping snuff, his only vice outside of an occasional beer.John Ed Bradley

intransitive verb

1
a
: to plunge into a liquid and quickly emerge
b
: to immerse something into a processing liquid or finishing material
2
a
: to suddenly drop down or out of sight
b
of an airplane : to drop suddenly before climbing
c
: to decline or decrease moderately and usually temporarily
prices dipped
d
: to lower the body momentarily especially as part of an athletic or dancing motion
3
: to withdraw a part of the contents of something by or as if by reaching down inside it
used with into
dipped into his pocket for change
dipped into the family's savings
4
: to examine or read something casually or superficially
used with into
dip into a book
5
: to incline downward from the plane of the horizon
6
: to use dipping tobacco : to place a pinch of tobacco between the lip or cheek and gum
Four years ago doctors removed a pre-cancerous lesion on the inside of his lower lip, and he can't quit dipping. His New Year's resolution was to quit. He lasted three days.Rick Reilly
7
US slang : to leave especially suddenly or prematurely
I didn't know anyone at the party so I dipped.
often used with out
On Saturday night, as I'm dipping out early on the decidedly tame afterparty …, I pass one of the models hired by E11even, the Miami nightclub.Zoë Bernard
Some actors dip out and pursue a new career while they're young, and others keep going until they can no longer find roles that interest them.Kristen Harris
Among the diverse crop of winners was Doja Cat, who took home her first ever Grammy in the pop category—which she had to sprint back to accept after dipping out of the gala for a bathroom break.trtworld.com
"He's been there for me through my darkest times. I'm not just gonna dip out and abandon him when he needs me most."Dillon Passage, quoted at vanityfair.com
dippable adjective

dip

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
: an act of dipping
especially : a brief plunge into the water for sport or exercise
a quick dip in the pool
2
: inclination downward:
a
: pitch
b
: a sharp downward course : drop
a dip in popularity
c
: the angle that a stratum or similar geologic feature makes with a horizontal plane
3
: the angle formed with the horizon by a magnetic needle free to rotate in the vertical plane
4
: hollow, depression
a dip in the road
5
: something obtained by or used in dipping
a dip of ice cream
a dip of snuff
6
a
: a sauce or soft mixture into which food may be dipped
bean dip
b
: a liquid preparation for the dipping of something
especially : an insecticide or parasiticide for the dipping of animals
a sheep dip
7
slang : pickpocket

dip

3 of 5

noun (2)

: a stupid or unsophisticated person

dip

4 of 5

abbreviation (1)

diploma

DIP

5 of 5

abbreviation (2)

dual in-line package; dual in-line packaging

Examples of dip in a Sentence

Verb Use a ladle to dip some water out of the pot. dipping water from a well The sun dipped below the horizon. The road dips over the hill. I saw his head dip below the surface of the water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Humidity levels, meanwhile, dipped as low as 15 to 25 percent. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The average age of a Rolls-Royce owner has dipped to 42 years old, and even farther up the ladder of lavishness, superyacht owners are typically around 50 years old. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Asylum applications have increased in Europe against a backdrop of rising global conflict, after dipping during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Megan Specia, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Its shares dipped nearly 5% on Thursday following the sale’s announcement. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 After lunch at the market, dip into the Shops at the Colonnade to find souvenir vendors and local boutiques. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 Customers also have the option of paying $1 to have their free cone dipped in a flavor like chocolate, cherry, or butterscotch. Detroit Free Press, 18 Mar. 2024 After a day or two of rain and storms, the mercury will dip Friday just as Saint Patrick's Day revelers kick off the weekend. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival once again brings more than 80 dishes to the park drizzled, dipped and drenched in the signature fruit that started it all more than 100 years ago. Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Low temperatures Wednesday night and Thursday night dip to the mid-20s to mid-30s, which keeps late-season freezes in play, especially in the northern and western suburbs. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 The dip was expected given the weather this January with a week of bitter cold, said Rosenberg. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 As such, the 10 songs that make up Lady on the Cusp dip into reflections on the past and hopefulness for the incoming future. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2024 The single dips to No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart, after two weeks at No. 1, and to No. 3 after a week atop Streaming Songs, while bounding 43-23 on Radio Songs, as the song claims top Airplay Gainer honors on the Hot 100 for a second week. Gary Trust, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 Try it in this dip that is easily a light but full meal when served with bread and vegetables. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The post, which garnered almost 300,000 likes, brought to light how beloved the cone dip flavor is among customers. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Check out our best crab recipes, ranging from soft-shell to crab cakes to party dips, and all the side dishes to serve alongside your favorite crustacean. Coastal Living, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Snowflake now expects a dip in revenue for storage, which represents roughly 10% to 11% of overall sales. R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English dippen, from Old English dyppan; akin to Old High German tupfen to wash, Lithuanian dubus deep

Noun (2)

back-formation from dippy

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dip was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near dip

Cite this Entry

“Dip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dip. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dip

1 of 2 verb
dipped; dipping
1
: to sink or push briefly into or as if into a liquid
dip a towel in water
dips a hand into his pocket
2
: to lift out with something that holds liquid : ladle
dip water from a pail
3
: to lower and then raise again
dip a flag in salute
4
a
: to drop down into a liquid and quickly come out
oars dipping rhythmically
b
: to put something for treatment under the surface of a liquid
5
a
: to drop down or out of sight
the road dipped below the crest
b
: to decrease somewhat usually for a short time
prices dipped
6
: to reach down inside or as if inside especially to take out a part of the contents
dipped into their savings
7
: to look at or consider something briefly
especially : to read a little of something
dip into a book

dip

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of dipping
especially : a brief plunge into the water for sport or exercise
2
a
: a downward slope
b
: a sharp or slight downward course : drop
a dip in prices
3
: the angle formed with the horizon by a magnetic needle free to rotate in a vertical plane
4
: something obtained by or used in dipping
a dip of ice cream
5
a
: a sauce or soft mixture into which food (as raw vegetables) may be dipped
b
: a liquid into which something may be dipped (as for cleansing or coloring)

Medical Definition

dip

1 of 3 transitive verb
dipped; dipping
: to immerse (as a sheep or hog) in an antiseptic or parasiticidal solution

dip

2 of 3 noun
1
: a liquid preparation of an insecticide, parasiticide, or fungicide which is applied to animals by immersing them in it
a sheep dip
2
: a vat or tank in which dip is used

DIP

3 of 3 abbreviation
distal interphalangeal

More from Merriam-Webster on dip

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!