rippled; rippling
ˈri-p(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to become lightly ruffled or covered with small waves
b
: to flow in small waves
c
: to fall in soft undulating folds
the scarf rippled to the floor
2
: to flow with a light rise and fall of sound or inflection
laughter rippled over the audience
3
: to move with an undulating motion or so as to cause ripples
the canoe rippled through the water
4
: to have or produce a ripple effect : spread
the news rippled outwards
1
: to stir up small waves on
2
: to impart a wavy motion or appearance to
rippling his arm muscles
3
: to utter or play with a slight rise and fall of sound
1
a
: a shallow stretch of rough water in a stream
b(1)
: the ruffling of the surface of water
(2)
: a small wave
2
a
b
: a sound like that of rippling water
a ripple of laughter
c
: a usually slight noticeable effect or reaction
A ripple of fear/excitement spread through the room.
Examples of ripple in a Sentence
Verb
Water rippled under the dock.
We could see the lion's muscles ripple.
A cool breeze rippled the water.
Noun
The pebble made ripples in the pond when I threw it in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
China’s leaders have been trying to spur faster growth after a slump in the property market and disruptions from the pandemic rippled through the economy.
—Chan Ho-Him, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The interior is not only a literal and figurative reflection of the exterior, where the family spends most of their time on the lake and grounds, but its new floor plan was conceived, Brent explains, by looking at the key moments in the family’s day as concentric ripples on water.
—David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ripple
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Verb
When reinsurers raise rates, higher premiums ripple quickly through the system, impacting millions of households.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
China’s leaders have been trying to spur faster growth after a slump in the property market and disruptions from the pandemic rippled through the economy.
—Chan Ho-Him, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
As for collecting evidence of this theory, that may be a job not for the JWST or any other traditional astronomical device, but for instruments designed to detect the tiny ripples in space known as gravitational waves that mergers such as this radiate.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The interior is not only a literal and figurative reflection of the exterior, where the family spends most of their time on the lake and grounds, but its new floor plan was conceived, Brent explains, by looking at the key moments in the family’s day as concentric ripples on water.
—David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ripple
Cite this Entry
“Ripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripple. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ripple
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the disturbing of the surface of water
b
: a small wave or a mark like a small wave
2
: a sound like that of rippling water
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