dripped; dripping
1
: to let fall in drops
a brush dripping paint
2
: to let out or seem to spill copiously
her voice dripping sarcasm
trees dripping Spanish moss
1
a
: to let fall drops of moisture or liquid
wet clothes dripping onto the floor
b
: to overflow with or as if with moisture
stories dripping with pop-culture references
toast dripping with butter
2
: to fall in or as if in drops
let the excess drip off
3
: to waft or pass gently
dripper
noun
plural drips
1
: a part of a cornice or other member that projects to throw off rainwater
also
: an overlapping metal strip or an underneath groove for the same purpose
2
a
: a falling in drops
a constant drip of water from the leaky faucet
b
: liquid that falls, overflows, or is extruded in drops
a pan to catch drips
3
: the sound made by or as if by falling drops
heard a drip
He said to the housing man … 'The floor goes creak, the tap goes drip drip …'—
Chris Smith
Chris Smith4
: a device for the administration of a fluid at a slow rate especially into a vein
A drip needle is often inserted at the beginning of a stay in the ward and, as one might expect, the attachment to a drip has salient implications for the way in which the hospital stay is experienced.—Rosemary Blake
Rosemary Blake
also
: a material so administered
The practice of using IVs as a means of rehydration for athletes isn't new. Healthy elites have reportedly gotten saline-only drips for recovery for at least 20 years. —Megan Hetzel et al.
Megan Hetzel et al. 5
: a dull or unattractive person
… [Charles Dickens' character] David Copperfield, in manhood, is not an especially interesting person. ("He's such a drip," commented a friend of mine.)—James Parker
James Parker6
African American English
: a fashionable style or look
Now I just need to get her an oversized graphic tee and some slick joggers to complete her drip.—Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di BenedettoDrip check. Show me what looks you're serving …—@AscendantNomad, on Twitter
@AscendantNomad, on Twitter
also
: something (such as fashionable clothing or jewelry) that is part of one's drip
Racks of clothing line the walls as you enter the apartment, studio and workspace of local rapper Smoke Stkz, and not because his closet wouldn't fit the entirety of his drip. —Ryann Gordon
Ryann Gordon What was [Rihanna] thinking introducing the baby to the world, appearing casual in jeans … but actually wearing … Chanel (both the jacket and the costume-jewelry drip) … —Zoe Guy
Zoe Guy … humans are extending their shoe "drip" to horses who can now have trendy kicks for the first time, a company says. —Camille Fine
Camille Fine
: of, relating to, or being coffee made by letting boiling water drip slowly through finely ground coffee
drip coffee
a drip pot
dividend reinvestment plan
Synonyms
Examples of drip in a Sentence
Verb
Water dripped from a leak in the ceiling.
Blood dripped down his leg from the cut.
Hot wax dripped onto my fingers.
The pine trees dripped sap onto the cars.
The kids dripped water all over the house.
Noun
Drips of water fell from a leak in the ceiling.
We heard the drip of the rain.
the steady drip, drip, drip of the faucet
Water fell from the ceiling in a steady drip.
The doctor put the patient on a morphine drip to manage the pain.
Don't invite that drip to your party!
Recent Examples on the WebBrianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Uncle walked even faster now, and his salty sweat dripped onto my already sweaty face, causing my eyes to sting.
—Mohammed Naseehu Ali, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Lightweight, quick-drying fabrics are so important for long-term travel when laundry becomes an issue — in many places, dryers aren’t readily available, and no one wants to wait hours for thick cotton pants to slowly drip dry.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024
Usher did it his way: dripping in Black Southern culture.
—Shaun Harper, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
This freeze-thaw cycle creates pressure in the tree that causes the sap to drip from a spile, the metal tap driven into the tree.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Save water by either changing traditional rotor irrigation heads to MP rotator heads or converting it to drip irrigation.
—Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024
Did the three dead roaches in that dry storage corner lose a rumble to the rodents?
Go to the bathroom, wash your hands, come out dripping all over the place because there wasn’t any way to dry your hands.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, the backdrop behind her slowly started to drip fake blood.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 5 Feb. 2024
David Goldman, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Make sure to water hydrangeas at the base or roots with drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024
The watering schedule doesn’t apply to local homes and businesses using drip irrigation methods such as a watering hose and spray nozzles.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024
Elsewhere on the land are chicken coops, a drip irrigation system, raised bed-garden, glass greenhouse and horse corrals, along with riding and hiking trails leading to the Charmlee Wildnerness Park.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024
The plants will also require very large quantities of water (think drip irrigation) and the soil will need fertilizers such as nitrogen (large amounts), potassium and phosphates.
—Barb Sands, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024
Let cold water drip from faucets connected to pipes that are exposed outdoors or that are in unheated interior areas.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
The chaos that ensued shows how the drip of online conspiracy and radicalization, driven by algorithms and exploited by opportunists, has warped political discourse in democratic societies.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
This steel stand brings a touch of industrial feel and comes with a removable drip catcher to collect excess water.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2024
Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2021
Jamie Kim's first job at Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was drip coffee makers.
—Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
Richard came into prominence on the art scene for his drip-style paintings and celebrity portraits that have featured Marc Jacobs, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, just to name a few.
—Dana Givens, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2022
There's also a foil cutter and an aerator with a drip-free spout, plus two stoppers with a pump to preserve unfinished wine.
—Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 7 Dec. 2022
The extra wide handle and non-drip spout make this teapot very comfortable to use.
—Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022
According to the brand, this model is quiet and features an anti-drip leaver that helps avoid messes from dripping.
—Brigitt Earley, Good Housekeeping, 31 May 2022
What's more, the Rowenta is manufactured with an anti-drip system, which stops water from spitting out of the soleplate when the temperature is too low.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022
Over the years, Israel has used technology to transform the Negev, covering more than half the country, into an agricultural region where high-tech, drip-irrigated farms grow crops like cherry tomatoes, melons and dates.
—Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2021
Verb
The shop dripped with musical innuendos, from its slogan Pizza Rules Everything Around Me (P.R.E.A.M.), a riff on the classic Wu-Tang Clan single, to the meat-lover pizza coined Cee No Green.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Uncle walked even faster now, and his salty sweat dripped onto my already sweaty face, causing my eyes to sting.
—Mohammed Naseehu Ali, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Lightweight, quick-drying fabrics are so important for long-term travel when laundry becomes an issue — in many places, dryers aren’t readily available, and no one wants to wait hours for thick cotton pants to slowly drip dry.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024
Usher did it his way: dripping in Black Southern culture.
—Shaun Harper, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
This freeze-thaw cycle creates pressure in the tree that causes the sap to drip from a spile, the metal tap driven into the tree.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Save water by either changing traditional rotor irrigation heads to MP rotator heads or converting it to drip irrigation.
—Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024
Did the three dead roaches in that dry storage corner lose a rumble to the rodents?
Go to the bathroom, wash your hands, come out dripping all over the place because there wasn’t any way to dry your hands.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, the backdrop behind her slowly started to drip fake blood.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 5 Feb. 2024
Noun
The drip, drip, drip of bad news makes a turnaround even harder.
—David Goldman, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Make sure to water hydrangeas at the base or roots with drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024
The watering schedule doesn’t apply to local homes and businesses using drip irrigation methods such as a watering hose and spray nozzles.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024
Elsewhere on the land are chicken coops, a drip irrigation system, raised bed-garden, glass greenhouse and horse corrals, along with riding and hiking trails leading to the Charmlee Wildnerness Park.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024
The plants will also require very large quantities of water (think drip irrigation) and the soil will need fertilizers such as nitrogen (large amounts), potassium and phosphates.
—Barb Sands, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024
Let cold water drip from faucets connected to pipes that are exposed outdoors or that are in unheated interior areas.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
The chaos that ensued shows how the drip of online conspiracy and radicalization, driven by algorithms and exploited by opportunists, has warped political discourse in democratic societies.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
This steel stand brings a touch of industrial feel and comes with a removable drip catcher to collect excess water.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The 70-watt machine is equipped with a BPA-free dome lid, integrated sensor that activates when pressure is applied, stainless steel and anti-corrosive reamer and strainer, and non-drip spout to deliver breakfast juice or cocktail ingredients directly to your glass in a few seconds flat.
—Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2021
Jamie Kim's first job at Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was drip coffee makers.
—Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
Richard came into prominence on the art scene for his drip-style paintings and celebrity portraits that have featured Marc Jacobs, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, just to name a few.
—Dana Givens, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2022
There's also a foil cutter and an aerator with a drip-free spout, plus two stoppers with a pump to preserve unfinished wine.
—Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 7 Dec. 2022
The extra wide handle and non-drip spout make this teapot very comfortable to use.
—Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022
According to the brand, this model is quiet and features an anti-drip leaver that helps avoid messes from dripping.
—Brigitt Earley, Good Housekeeping, 31 May 2022
What's more, the Rowenta is manufactured with an anti-drip system, which stops water from spitting out of the soleplate when the temperature is too low.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022
Over the years, Israel has used technology to transform the Negev, covering more than half the country, into an agricultural region where high-tech, drip-irrigated farms grow crops like cherry tomatoes, melons and dates.
—Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drip.' 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 drippen, from Old English dryppan; akin to Old English dropa drop
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1625, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Adjective
1895, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of drip was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing drip
Dictionary Entries Near drip
Cite this Entry
“Drip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drip. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
drip
1 of 2 verb
dripped; dripping
1
: to fall or let fall in or as if in drops
2
: to let fall drops of liquid
a dripping faucet
dripper
noun
drip
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a falling in drops
b
: liquid that drips
2
: the sound made by drops
Medical Definition
drip
1 of 2 verb
dripped; dripping
: to let fall in drops
drip
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a falling in drops see postnasal drip
b
: liquid that falls, overflows, or is extruded in drops
2
: a device for the administration of a fluid at a slow rate especially into a vein
was hooked up to an intravenous drip
More from Merriam-Webster on drip
Nglish: Translation of drip for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drip for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drip
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