trip

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrip 

tripped; tripping

intransitive verb

1

: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble

2

: to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)

3

a

: to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps

b

: to walk with light quick steps

4

: to stumble in articulation when speaking

5

: to make a journey

6

a

: to actuate a mechanism

b

: to become operative

7

a

: to get high on a psychedelic drug (such as LSD) : turn on

—often used with out

b

slang : freak sense 3b

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to stumble

—often used with up

b

: to cause to fail : obstruct

—often used with up

2

: to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder

also : expose

—usually used with up

3

: to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent

trip the fire alarm

4

: to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free

5

a

: to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering

b

: to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering

6

archaic : to perform (a dance) lightly or nimbly

trip

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: voyage, journey

b

: a single round or tour on a business errand

2

a

: an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)

b

: an exciting or unusual experience

the party was a trip

3

: absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind

a guilt trip

on a nostalgia trip

4

: a faltering step caused by stumbling

5

: a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing

6

: error, misstep

7

: a quick light step

8

a

: the action of tripping mechanically

b

: a device for tripping a mechanism (such as a catch or detent)

9

: scene, lifestyle

Phrases

trip the light fantastic

: dance

Synonyms

Verb

• dash
• gallop
• jog
• run
• scamper
• sprint
• trot

Noun

• expedition
• journey
• passage
• peregrination
• travel(s)
• trek

Examples of trip in a Sentence

Verb

He deliberately tried to trip me.

The dancers tripped off the stage.

Noun

They got back from their trip yesterday.

a trip around the world

He was on an acid trip.

an ankle injury caused by a trip

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

An early penalty kill The Panthers killed off an early penalty when Matthew Tkachuk went to the box for tripping Brayden Point on a breakaway attempt 2:40 into the first period. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2024

One day while high on acid, his pit bull got loose and ran into the neighbor’s house, with a tripping Shane giving chase behind it. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing trip

• business trip
• day trip
• ego trip
• field trip
• guilt trip
• lay/put a guilt trip on
• on a power trip
• power trip
• road trip
• roll/trip off the tongue
• round trip
• round-trip ticket
• trip-hammer
• trip-hop
• trip the light fantastic
• trip up
• trip wire

Kids Definition

trip

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrip 

1

: an act of causing another to stumble or fall

2

a

: a traveling from one place to another : journey

a trip to Europe

b

: a brief errand or journey with a purpose that often takes place on a regular basis

a trip to the dentist

3

: error sense 4, misstep

4

a

: a quick light step

b

: a faltering step : stumble

5

a

: the action of releasing something mechanically

b

: a device (as a catch) for releasing a mechanism

trip

2 of 2 verb

tripped; tripping

1

: to move (as in dancing or walking) with light quick steps

2

a

: to catch one's foot against something so as to stumble

don't trip over the rock

b

: to cause to stumble

someone must have tripped him

3

a

: to make or cause to make a mistake

b

: to catch making a false statement, error, or blunder

questions designed to trip her up

4

: to release or start a device usually by moving a catch

tripped the fire alarm