the tip of the iceberg
noun phrase
: a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about
The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.
Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The enforcement actions, plus the ramp up in staffing and budget, signal that the cases thus far may be the tip of the iceberg, said Rybicki.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 May 2026
For many in the field, the cases that are in the public eye are only the tip of the iceberg.
—Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 12 May 2026
But doctors say this visible eruption, which frequently forms a stripe on one side of the torso and can last three to five weeks after symptoms start, often is just the tip of the iceberg.
—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 7 May 2026
But these characters form only the tip of the iceberg.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
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Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 May 2026
For many in the field, the cases that are in the public eye are only the tip of the iceberg.
—Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 12 May 2026
But doctors say this visible eruption, which frequently forms a stripe on one side of the torso and can last three to five weeks after symptoms start, often is just the tip of the iceberg.
—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 7 May 2026
But these characters form only the tip of the iceberg.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
Cite this Entry
“The tip of the iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20tip%20of%20the%20iceberg. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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