the tip of the iceberg
noun phrase
: a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about
The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.
Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The online beef is just the tip of the iceberg amid a busy week at the White House, as the return of a Trump travel ban and deadly aid rollouts in Gaza raise alarms.
—
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
This is just still the tip of the iceberg,
Baltin: That leads to an obvious question.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The bold interiors are just the tip of the iceberg; SLS Barcelona also leans heavily into the city's creative culture, from collaborations with celebrity-favorite local designer Caro Luna to partnering with the Primavera Sound music festival.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025
The capital region is just the tip of the iceberg, though.
—Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
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Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
This is just still the tip of the iceberg,
Baltin: That leads to an obvious question.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The bold interiors are just the tip of the iceberg; SLS Barcelona also leans heavily into the city's creative culture, from collaborations with celebrity-favorite local designer Caro Luna to partnering with the Primavera Sound music festival.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025
The capital region is just the tip of the iceberg, though.
—Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
Cite this Entry
“The tip of the iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20tip%20of%20the%20iceberg. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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