hip

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈhip 

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

: hip joint

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)

: rose hip

hip

5 of 6

verb

hipped; hipping

transitive verb

: to make aware : tell, inform

hip

6 of 6

noun (3)

: hipness

Synonyms

Adjective

• à la mode
• a la mode
• au courant
• chic
• cool [slang]
• exclusive
• fashionable
• fresh [slang]
• happening
• in
• modish
• sharp
• smart
• snappy
• stylish
• supercool
• swell
• swish
• trendy
• voguish

Verb

• acquaint
• advise
• apprise
• brief
• catch up
• clear
• clue (in)
• enlighten
• familiarize
• fill in
• inform
• instruct
• tell
• verse
• wise (up)

Noun (3)

• cool
• coolness
• fashionableness
• hipness
• hipsterism
• modishness
• stylishness
• trendiness
• voguishness

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

Sophomore Miles Byrd, after missing two games with a hip issue, had a big 3 to halt a Huskies comeback. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2023

Related The Brit Awards introduced four genre awards categories in 2022 — alternative/rock, dance, pop/R&B and hip hop/grime/rap. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2023

In 2016, a graduate student in the U.K. named Craig Williams theorized in a blog post that Banksy was Robert Del Naja, a member of the hip hip trio Massive Attack. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023

Men carried toddlers on their hips or shoulders, while older children walked on their own, clutching backpacks with just a handful of possessions. —Loay Ayyoub, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023

Anything from belly dancing to salsa dancing to samba to hip hop. —Mekita Rivas, Allure, 17 Nov. 2023

This also comes at the perfect time as this year marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Nov. 2023

Despite different cultures, NASA—the often-bureaucratic and conservative government agency—and SpaceX—the fast-moving company that likes to design, break, and fix things—are tied at the hip. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 17 Nov. 2023

Ultramagnetic are also widely credited as the first hip hop group to use a sampler as an instrument, rather than just a simple rhythm tool. —Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 17 Nov. 2023

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

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

Maketto hosts hip Baltimore home and design store Good Neighbor for a holiday pop-up shop beginning Wednesday, giving Washingtonians a chance to browse stylish ceramics, home decor and kitchen goods without making the drive up the B-W Parkway. —Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2022

The playlist, engineered by a DJ who was operating a portable turntable at a round hightop, bounced from modern country to hip hop to Cyndi Lauper to EDM. —Emma Balter, Chron, 17 Oct. 2022

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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

Phrases Containing hip

• hip and thigh
• hip hop
• hip bone
• hip-hopper
• hip-huggers
• hip boot
• hip flask
• hip joint
• hip pointer
• hip roof
• joined at the hip
• hip-shooting
• hip to
• shoot from the hip
• rose hip

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• hip and thigh
• hip hop
• hip bone
• hip-hopper
• hip-huggers
• hip boot
• hip flask
• hip joint
• hip pointer
• hip roof
• joined at the hip
• hip-shooting
• hip to
• shoot from the hip
• rose hip

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Kids Definition

hip

1 of 3 noun

ˈhip 

: rose hip

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

: wise entry 2 sense 2, alert

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

ˈhip 

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

: hip joint