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
2
: the external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof that have their wall plates running in different directions
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
—used in a cheer
hip hip hooray
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)
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
Noun (3)
kids dyeing their hair in pursuit of hip
Recent Examples on the Web
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2024
The Matadors’ speedster showed no effects of a hip injury which kept him out of the section meet a year ago.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
Flattering on the waist and hips Structured, but still comfortable
No gapping at the waist
Red Flags
Could use a little bit more length for plus-sized wearers
Stretched out a bit by the second wear.
—Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
Drake and Minaj are also up for best male and female hip hop artist, respectively.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 16 May 2024
One study in older adults found that multivitamin use was associated with a 51 percent lower risk of sustaining a hip fracture.
—Anne Cook Carroll, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
His first paper dating these tracks detailed a perilous journey undertaken by what appears to be a small woman or adolescent female, carrying a child on her hip, walking fast across the muddy lakeshore.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2024
The graceful swiveling of those hips that have been swiveling since the very early ‘60s?
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
In the first photo, the actress rocks light blonde locks, a button-down top and a fresh-faced look while posing, hands on hip, in front of a large white camper.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
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
Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024
From casual beach towns to hip urban locales, L.A. is full of charming enclaves waiting to be discovered — and Culver City is one of them.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
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
Noun
The two stars came into the music scene in the hip hop genre.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2024
The Matadors’ speedster showed no effects of a hip injury which kept him out of the section meet a year ago.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
Flattering on the waist and hips Structured, but still comfortable
No gapping at the waist
Red Flags
Could use a little bit more length for plus-sized wearers
Stretched out a bit by the second wear.
—Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
Drake and Minaj are also up for best male and female hip hop artist, respectively.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 16 May 2024
One study in older adults found that multivitamin use was associated with a 51 percent lower risk of sustaining a hip fracture.
—Anne Cook Carroll, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
His first paper dating these tracks detailed a perilous journey undertaken by what appears to be a small woman or adolescent female, carrying a child on her hip, walking fast across the muddy lakeshore.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2024
The graceful swiveling of those hips that have been swiveling since the very early ‘60s?
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
In the first photo, the actress rocks light blonde locks, a button-down top and a fresh-faced look while posing, hands on hip, in front of a large white camper.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
Adjective
It was seen as the hipper, edgier alternative to entrenched establishment clubs like Annabel’s and White’s.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
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
As Utah embraces the ways of the surfer, the color palette moves from grayish to yellowish, and then, when Bodhi hips him to skydiving, from yellowish to cloudless blue.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024
From casual beach towns to hip urban locales, L.A. is full of charming enclaves waiting to be discovered — and Culver City is one of them.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hip
Cite this Entry
“Hip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hip. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
adjective
ˈhipt
hip
3 of 3 adjective
hipper; hippest
1
: keenly aware of or interested in the newest developments
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
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