slipstream

1 of 2

noun

slip·​stream ˈslip-ˌstrēm 

1

: a stream of fluid (such as air or water) driven aft by a propeller

2

: an area of reduced air pressure and forward suction immediately behind a rapidly moving vehicle

slipstream

2 of 2

verb

slipstreamed; slipstreaming; slipstreams

intransitive verb

: to drive in the slipstream of a vehicle

Examples of slipstream in a Sentence

Noun

The motorcycle was riding the truck's slipstream.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Determined to change that narrative is Susie Wolff, whose own journey behind the wheel is now creating quite a slipstream for women to follow. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 June 2025

Its structure brings to mind Mario Kart World: There are wider, more open zones to explore in between races of intense cycling action where catching a slipstream is key to securing a win. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 23 May 2025

Verb

Supply chain attacks, for instance, can leverage an MSP's broad reach to slipstream malicious code into an application deployed to millions of end users’ browsers or mobile devices. —Sean McElroy, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

But the audio-streaming giant is making changes to slipstream it into the Spotify business: Starting today, Heardle players can listen to the full song on Spotify at the end of the game. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for slipstream

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream