tip-off

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈtip-ˌȯf 

1

: warning, tip

2

: a telltale sign

tip-off

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the act or an instance of putting the ball in play in basketball by a jump ball

Synonyms of tip-off

Noun (1)

• warning

Examples of tip-off in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the retreat of the island's wildlife to higher ground was a tip-off that a tsunami was about to strike

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before tip-off, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, marking their third straight absence in the series. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

There was now a Kalshi Concourse in the arena, and outside, a content creator wearing a Kalshi T-shirt led a prayer circle before tip-off on Tuesday. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026

The preacher was arrested in 2023 after police received a tip-off, and weeks later authorities began uncovering bodies in shallow graves in the Shakahola Forest near the coast in southeastern Kenya. — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Posing as a potential buyer several years ago, conservation photojournalist Paul Hilton recalled being led deep into a rural Sumatran community after a tip-off of an orangutan for sale. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

tip entry 8

Noun (2)

tip entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tip-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

tip-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈtip-ˌȯf

1

: a warning that something is going to happen

2

: a telltale sign

tip-off

2 of 2 noun

: the start of a basketball game when the ball is thrown in the air and a player from each team jumps up and tries to get the ball