tip

1 of 10

verb (1)

ˈtip 

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: overturn, upset

—usually used with over

2

a

: cant entry 3, tilt

b

: to raise and tilt forward in salute

tipped his hat

intransitive verb

1

: to become tipped : topple

2

: lean, slant

tip

2 of 10

noun (1)

1

: the act or an instance of tipping : tilt

2

chiefly British : a place for depositing something (such as rubbish) by dumping

tip

3 of 10

noun (2)

1

: the usually pointed end of something

a pencil tip

2

: a small piece or part serving as an end, cap, or point

tipped

ˈtipt 

adjective

tip

4 of 10

verb (2)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

a

: to furnish with a tip

b(1)

: to cover or adorn the tip of

(2)

: to blend (furs) for improved appearance by brushing the tips of the hair with dye

2

: to affix (an insert) in a book

—often used with in

3

: to remove the ends of

tip raspberries

tip

5 of 10

verb (3)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to strike lightly : tap

2

: to give (something, such as a baseball) a glancing blow

intransitive verb

: tiptoe

tip

6 of 10

noun (3)

: a light touch or blow

tip

7 of 10

noun (4)

1

: a piece of advice or expert or authoritative information

2

: a piece of advance or confidential information given by one thought to have access to special or inside sources

tip

8 of 10

verb (4)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to impart a piece of information or advice about or to

—often used with off

2

chiefly British : to mention as a likely candidate, prospective winner, or profitable investment : tout sense 1

tip

9 of 10

verb (5)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to give a gratuity to

2

: give, present

this crew has tipped you the black spot

—R. L. Stevenson

intransitive verb

: to bestow a gratuity

tip

10 of 10

noun (5)

: a gift or a sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated : gratuity

Phrases

tip the scales

1

: to register weight

tips the scales at 285 pounds

2

: to shift the balance of power or influence

tipped the scales in favor of a declaration of war

—S. F. Bemis

on the tip of one's tongue

1

: about to be uttered

it was on the tip of my tongue to say exactly what I thought

2

: just eluding recall

tip one's hand or less commonly tip one's mitt

: to declare one's intentions or reveal one's opinions or resources

the Justice Department wouldn't tip its hand by saying what its next move … would be

—Newsweek

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• angle
• cant
• cock
• heel
• incline
• lean
• list
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tilt

Noun (1)

• angling
• bend
• cock
• inclination
• list
• tilt

Noun (2)

• apex
• cusp
• end
• nib
• nose
• pike
• point

Noun (4)

• hint
• lead
• pointer

Noun (5)

• gratuity
• perquisite

Examples of tip in a Sentence

Verb (1)

be careful because if you tip your cup any more, you'll spill your tea

Noun (1)

she didn't say anything but just acknowledged our presence with a tip of her head

you simply cannot dispose of leftover petrol at the tip

Noun (2)

the tip of a knitting needle

Noun (4)

got some tips from a horticulturist on how to get my violets to bloom

investigators are trying to determine whether the investor illegally received a tip that the company's stock was about to plunge

Noun (5)

gave our waiter an extra large tip for such fantastic service

a customer who always gives his paper carrier a very generous tip at Christmastime

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Waiters and those who get tips Tips would not be taxed if the bill passes. —George Petras, USA Today, 22 May 2025

Trump’s legislation, at more than 1,100 pages, would permanently extend his 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year while introducing new policies like tax exemptions for tips and overtime wages. —Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025

Verb

The indictment says an off-duty law enforcement officer tipped Lam on Sept. 18 that authorities were on their way to arrest Lam at his Miami rental home. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 May 2025

As David’s hands neared the shoes, the stool tipped and then flipped. —Jason Quick, New York Times, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

Middle English; akin to Middle High German zipf tip, Old English tæppa tap — more at tap entry 3

Verb (2)

Middle English tipped having a tip, from tip entry 3

Noun (3)

Middle English tippe; akin to Low German tippen to tap

Noun (4)

origin unknown

Verb (5)

perhaps from tip entry 5

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (4)

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (5)

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (5)

1755, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tip

• felt-tip
• felt-tip pen
• filter tip
• foul tip
• hot tip
• on the tip of one's tongue
• Q-tip
• rubbish tip/dump
• shift/tip/tilt the balance of power
• the tip of the iceberg
• tip-in
• tip-off
• tip of the iceberg
• tip one's cap/hat
• tip one's hand
• tip one's mitt
• tip over
• tip (someone) the wink
• tip the balance
• tip the scales at
• tip-top
• tip up
• white-tip reef shark
• white-tip shark
• wing tip

Rhymes for tip

• blip
• chip
• clip
• dip
• drip
• flip
• grip
• grippe
• hip
• ip
• kip
• lip

Video

Some Odd Words with ISMO: "People Tipping"

Comedian ISMO on the complexities of the word 'tip'

Kids Definition

tip

1 of 10 verb

ˈtip 

tipped; tipping

1

: turn over sense 1a

tipped over a glass

2

: to bend from a straight position : slant

the bench tips on the uneven floor

3

: to raise and tilt forward

tipped his hat

tip

2 of 10 noun

: the act or an instance of tipping

a tip of the hat

tip

3 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

1

: to attach a tip to

2

: to cover or decorate the tip of

tip

4 of 10 noun

1

: the pointed or rounded end of something

2

: a small piece or part serving as an end, cap, or point

tipped

ˈtipt 

adjective

tip

5 of 10 noun

: a light touch or blow : tap

tip

6 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to hit a baseball so that it glances off the bat

tip

7 of 10 noun

: a piece of useful or secret information given

got a tip on how to prepare for the test

tip

8 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to give useful or secret information to

someone must have tipped them off

tip

9 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to give a tip to

tip the waiter

tip

10 of 10 noun

: a small sum of money given for a service

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tipen "to upset, overturn"

Noun

Middle English tip "a pointed end"

Noun

Middle English tippe "a light touch or blow"

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

probably derived from earlier tip (verb) "to strike lightly"

Legal Definition

tip

1 of 2 noun

1

: information provided to the police or authorities regarding crime

2

: a piece of inside information especially of advantage in securities trading

tip

2 of 2 transitive verb

tipped; tipping

: to provide a tip to or about

—often used with off

tipper noun