hip

1 of 6

noun (1)

1
a
: the laterally projecting region of each side of the lower or posterior part of the mammalian trunk formed by the lateral parts of the pelvis and upper part of the femur together with the fleshy parts covering them
b
2
: the external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof that have their wall plates running in different directions

hip

2 of 6

adjective

hipper; hippest
1
a
: having or showing awareness of or involvement in the newest developments or styles
b
: very fashionable : trendy
2
: aware or appreciative of something
used with to
got hip to their plan
hiply adverb

hip

3 of 6

interjection

used in a cheer
hip hip hooray

hip

4 of 6

noun (2)

hip

5 of 6

verb

hipped; hipping

transitive verb

: to make aware : tell, inform

hip

6 of 6

noun (3)

Examples of hip in a Sentence

Adjective He tried to learn about the latest bands so he could impress his hip new college friends. She knows how to get into all of the hippest clubs and restaurants. Verb if you want to get hipped on what goes on behind the scenes at a television network, you should read this book
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With a week left before the Giants break camp, the 36-year-old right-hander is further along than anybody — perhaps except himself — could have envisioned when Dr. Marc Philippon took a knife to his left hip on Oct. 31 in Vail, Colorado. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 An ambulance sped him to a hospital, where doctors would eventually insert three plates and 12 screws into his hip. ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024 Kravitz’s career has thrived and his fame grew larger over the following decades, and he has since become known for his hip personal style. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 The Sunday night headliner is multiple Grammy and Brits-winning hip hop/R&B act SZA making her Glastonbury debut. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, Steve was suffering from systemic arthritis that attacked his hips. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 The Dodgers won’t need a No. 5 starter until the first week of April. Brusdar Graterol update Reliever Brusdar Graterol has hip and shoulder tightness and will not be going to South Korea with the team. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 My biggest challenge was braking, which requires you to turn your hips and legs inward to form a pizza slice with your skis. Essence, 11 Mar. 2024 From an early sprained ankle, a minor hip contusion and the hamstring injury that robbed him of any explosion for almost two months, Ellis has battled injury demons while USC (12-17, 6-12 Pac-12) has fallen well short of lofty preseason expectations. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
These looks feel decidedly cooler and hipper than your standard suit, which can often read too buttoned-up or formal for a more casual outing. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023 Like the new Six Senses, these new openings feel a bit fresher and hipper than the city’s five-star stalwarts. Laura Itzkowitz, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2023 In fact, Smith did in America what Agnès b. was doing in France—turning a fashion brand into an anti-haute, pro-art, super-hip egalitarian statement. Laura Jacobs, WSJ, 12 June 2021
Verb
As Utah embraces the ways of the surfer, the color palette moves from grayish to yellowish, and then, when Bodhi hips him to skydiving, from yellowish to cloudless blue. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024 From casual beach towns to hip urban locales, L.A. is full of charming enclaves waiting to be discovered — and Culver City is one of them. Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 Bend knees and hips about 45 degrees and stack knees and hips on top of each other. Mallory Creveling, Health, 3 Sep. 2023 Complex was and remains deeply rooted in music and street culture – from sneakers and skaters to hip hop royalty. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 June 2023 That's 1 rep. Pro tip: Press hips up throughout movement to keep body in a straight line. Women's Health, 6 Apr. 2023 Inside the library: In this new podcast, L.A. librarian Kevin Awakuni explains why the city’s system is now an incubator for making libraries hip. Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2021 Its imaginative interactive displays explain the evolution of genres from gospel to R&B to hip hop. Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021 Greg Bell hurt his back and hip on the second-to-last play of Thursday's seven-on-seven session. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 29 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hip.' 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

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English hype; akin to Old High German huf hip

Adjective

alteration of hep entry 2

Interjection

origin unknown

Noun (2)

Middle English hipe, from Old English hēope; akin to Old High German hiafo hip

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Adjective

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Interjection

1811, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1932, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1952, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near hip

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

hip

1 of 3 noun

hip

2 of 3 noun
: the part of the body that curves outward below the waist on each side and is formed by the side part of the pelvis and the upper part of the thigh
hipped
ˈhipt
adjective

hip

3 of 3 adjective
hipper; hippest
1
: keenly aware of or interested in the newest developments
2
Etymology

Noun

Old English hēope "fruit of a rose"

Noun

Old English hype "hip of the body"

Adjective

an altered form of hep "keenly aware of and interested in the newest developments"; of unknown origin

Medical Definition

hip

noun
1
: the laterally projecting region of each side of the lower or posterior part of the mammalian trunk formed by the lateral parts of the pelvis and upper part of the femur together with the fleshy parts covering them
2

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