slip up

verb

slipped up; slipping up; slips up
Synonyms of slip upnext

intransitive verb

: to make a mistake : blunder

Examples of slip up in a Sentence

if you slip up in copying the data, the final result will of course be wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Detroit did slip up in Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena, although Detroit blew a 60-52 halftime lead in that contest. Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 What makes all this so engaging is the knowledge that eventually, one side or the other will slip up and people will get hurt, and the confidence that Nemesis’s inner world is so vibrant that the fallout will just be as compelling as the lead-up. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 May 2026 Had Pep Guardiola’s side slipped up at a subdued Etihad, then Arsenal and Mikel Arteta could have won the title with victory over Burnley on Monday. Sam Lee, New York Times, 13 May 2026 For investors to get a return on that investment, Google can't afford to slip up. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for slip up

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slip up was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slip up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slip%20up. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

slipup

1 of 2 noun
slip·​up ˈslip-ˌəp How to pronounce slipup (audio)

slip up

2 of 2 verb
slip-ˈəp
: to make a mistake : blunder

More from Merriam-Webster on slip up

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster