quip

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a clever usually taunting remark : gibe
b
: a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment
2
3
: something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity
quippy adjective

quip

2 of 2

verb

quipped; quipping

transitive verb

: to jest or gibe at
quipper noun

Did you know?

Quip is a shortening of quippy, a noun that is no longer in use. Etymologists believe that quippy came from Latin quippe, a word meaning "indeed" or "to be sure" that was often used ironically.

Examples of quip in a Sentence

Noun They traded quips over a beer. has his share of the quips that seem to come with a title of nobility Verb she rolled her eyes at her brother's bragging and quipped, “You're a legend in your own mind, all right”
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Morrison’s observations of Jonathan take the form of quips. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024 Gilbert has scrapped over the years with the Free Press about coverage of his family and his businesses, and his quip drew big laughs from the audience. Detroit Free Press, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
Miller quipped that even Minnesota could be in play after its governor’s shaky debate performance on Tuesday. Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 Lee quipped, citing Trump’s outlandish and offensive comments about immigrants made during the second 2024 presidential debates against Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quip 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quip.' 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

Noun

earlier quippy, perhaps from Latin quippe indeed, to be sure (often ironic), from quid what — more at quiddity

First Known Use

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1579, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of quip was in 1532

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Dictionary Entries Near quip

Cite this Entry

“Quip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quip. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

quip

1 of 2 noun
1
: a clever remark
2
: a witty or funny saying

quip

2 of 2 verb
quipped; quipping
: to make quips

More from Merriam-Webster on quip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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