hic·cup
ˈhi-(ˌ)kəp 
variants
or less commonly hiccough
1
: a spasmodic inhalation with closure of the glottis accompanied by a peculiar sound
2
: an attack of hiccuping
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
3
a
: a slight irregularity, error, or malfunction
a few hiccups in the computer system
b
: a usually minor and short-lived interruption or disruption, or change
a hiccup in the stock market
variants
or less commonly hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped; hiccuping also hiccupping
: to make a hiccup
also
: to be affected with hiccups
Synonyms
Examples of hiccup in a Sentence
Noun
Our computer problems were caused by a hiccup in the power supply.
The stock market has continued to rise, except for a slight hiccup earlier this month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Simon, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
But growing a restaurant concept that is new and still developing will have its hiccups.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Any hiccup would likely require lawmakers to work over the weekend.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
The lead-up to the landing wasn’t without some hiccups.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024
If hiccups are found, users must go through a second round of vetting with a photo ID.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing platform a day in advance to minimize technical hiccups.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024
There was a hiccup with the release of the remarks, however, as it was accidentally linked to the personal YouTube account of the Palace's Head of Digital Engagement, Emma Goodey.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
Etiwanda took control in the first quarter, suffocating Mitty with a matchup zone that kept the San Jose school’s best players from having any impact, and did not have a hiccup until the lead widened to 24.
—Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2023
Some babies hiccup frequently, even multiple times a day.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 10 Aug. 2023
If your baby starts hiccupping during feeding, wait until the hiccups are gone to continue feeding.5
Treatment
Typical hiccups that last for less than 48 hours are medically termed acute hiccups.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 6 Aug. 2023
The batteries were also crucial to keeping the power on when a nuclear plant hiccuped and went offline earlier in the week, said Doug Lewin, a Texas energy consultant.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 24 June 2023
The voice hiccupped, almost as if the man were struggling.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2023
There’s a good movie to be made about podcasts that traffic in unsolved mysteries where hosts rank cliffhangers and that hiccuping dramatic cadence over journalism.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
The model and television personality, 37, posted a sweet video of her 1-month-old daughter looking cozy on top of a gray blanket with a white bib, lightly hiccuping as she was being fed milk.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
Often when someone starts to hiccup, a debate begins among everyone nearby over which home remedy is the true cure.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
Noun
At the same time, other supply chain hiccups are conspiring with climate change to drive up the price of your favorite wine.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
But growing a restaurant concept that is new and still developing will have its hiccups.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Any hiccup would likely require lawmakers to work over the weekend.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
The lead-up to the landing wasn’t without some hiccups.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024
If hiccups are found, users must go through a second round of vetting with a photo ID.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing platform a day in advance to minimize technical hiccups.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024
There was a hiccup with the release of the remarks, however, as it was accidentally linked to the personal YouTube account of the Palace's Head of Digital Engagement, Emma Goodey.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
Etiwanda took control in the first quarter, suffocating Mitty with a matchup zone that kept the San Jose school’s best players from having any impact, and did not have a hiccup until the lead widened to 24.
—Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sometimes the music seems to hiccup into silence, as if nitrogen bubbles flowed through its bloodstream.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2023
Some babies hiccup frequently, even multiple times a day.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 10 Aug. 2023
If your baby starts hiccupping during feeding, wait until the hiccups are gone to continue feeding.5
Treatment
Typical hiccups that last for less than 48 hours are medically termed acute hiccups.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 6 Aug. 2023
The batteries were also crucial to keeping the power on when a nuclear plant hiccuped and went offline earlier in the week, said Doug Lewin, a Texas energy consultant.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 24 June 2023
The voice hiccupped, almost as if the man were struggling.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2023
There’s a good movie to be made about podcasts that traffic in unsolved mysteries where hosts rank cliffhangers and that hiccuping dramatic cadence over journalism.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
The model and television personality, 37, posted a sweet video of her 1-month-old daughter looking cozy on top of a gray blanket with a white bib, lightly hiccuping as she was being fed milk.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
Often when someone starts to hiccup, a debate begins among everyone nearby over which home remedy is the true cure.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hiccup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to hiccup
Dictionary Entries Near hiccup
Cite this Entry
“Hiccup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hiccup. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hiccup
1 of 2 noun
hic·cup
variants
also hiccough
: a sudden drawing in of breath that is followed and stopped by sudden closure of the glottis and accompanied by a gulping sound
hiccup
2 of 2 verb
variants
also hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped; hiccuping also hiccupping
: to make a hiccup or be affected with hiccups
Medical Definition
hiccup
1 of 2 noun
hic·cup
variants
also hiccough
1
: a spasmodic inhalation with closure of the glottis accompanied by a peculiar sound
2
: an attack of hiccuping
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
severe hiccups is sometimes seen after operation—Lancet
Lancetintractable hiccup … may be successfully treated—Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Associationhiccup
2 of 2 intransitive verb
variants
also hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped or hiccoughed; hiccuping also hiccupping or hiccoughing
: to make a hiccup
also
: to be affected with hiccups
hiccuper
noun
also hiccougher
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