tip-off

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
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

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
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.
Noun
This growing parity ensures an electrifying tournament filled with unexpected twists, upsets, and edge-of-the-seat moments from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025 The rematch — a 100-93 Lynx victory — unfortunately lost its luster way before tip-off with the Liberty severely shorthanded: Breanna Stewart (knee), Kennedy Burke (calf) and Nyara Sabally (knee discomfort) all were unavailable for the matchup. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 31 July 2025 The game will take place at the Lahaina Civic Center, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. Mountain time on Nov. 24. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2025 UConn learned its tip-off times and opponents for the Naismith Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Wednesday, as a change in the event’s format was announced after it was originally set to be played tournament-style. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tip-off

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tip-off was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tip-off. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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

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