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

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These three players from the class of 2026 are just the tip of the iceberg. Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025 And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; There are so many more savings worth gushing over. Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 15 Aug. 2025 But this is just the tip of the iceberg, says Jaime Fernández Fisac, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton University. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Aug. 2025 That basketball court is just the tip of the iceberg with this entertainer’s paradise. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg

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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 31 Aug. 2025.

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