dip

1 of 5

verb

ˈdip 

dipped; dipping; dips

transitive verb

1

a

: to plunge or immerse momentarily or partially under the surface (as of a liquid) so as to moisten, cool, or coat

dip candles

b

: to thrust in a way to suggest immersion

c

: to immerse (an animal, such as a sheep or dog) in an antiseptic or parasiticidal solution

2

a

: to lift a portion of by reaching below the surface with something shaped to hold liquid : ladle

b

: to take a portion of (snuff)

3

a

archaic : involve

b

: mortgage

4

a

: to lower and then raise again

dip a flag in salute

b

chiefly British : dim sense 1

5

: to place a pinch of (tobacco) between the lip or cheek and gum

He quit dipping snuff, his only vice outside of an occasional beer.

—John Ed Bradley

intransitive verb

1

a

: to plunge into a liquid and quickly emerge

b

: to immerse something into a processing liquid or finishing material

2

a

: to suddenly drop down or out of sight

b

of an airplane : to drop suddenly before climbing

c

: to decline or decrease moderately and usually temporarily

prices dipped

d

: to lower the body momentarily especially as part of an athletic or dancing motion

3

: to withdraw a part of the contents of something by or as if by reaching down inside it

—used with into

dipped into his pocket for change

dipped into the family's savings

4

: to examine or read something casually or superficially

—used with into

dip into a book

5

: to incline downward from the plane of the horizon

6

: to use dipping tobacco : to place a pinch of tobacco between the lip or cheek and gum

Four years ago doctors removed a pre-cancerous lesion on the inside of his lower lip, and he can't quit dipping. His New Year's resolution was to quit. He lasted three days.

—Rick Reilly

7

US slang : to leave especially suddenly or prematurely

I didn't know anyone at the party so I dipped.

—often used with out

On Saturday night, as I'm dipping out early on the decidedly tame afterparty …, I pass one of the models hired by E11even, the Miami nightclub.

—Zoë Bernard

Some actors dip out and pursue a new career while they're young, and others keep going until they can no longer find roles that interest them.

—Kristen Harris

Among the diverse crop of winners was Doja Cat, who took home her first ever Grammy in the pop category—which she had to sprint back to accept after dipping out of the gala for a bathroom break.

—trtworld.com

"He's been there for me through my darkest times. I'm not just gonna dip out and abandon him when he needs me most."

—Dillon Passage, quoted at vanityfair.com

dippable

ˈdi-pə-bəl 

adjective

dip

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

: an act of dipping

especially : a brief plunge into the water for sport or exercise

a quick dip in the pool

2

: inclination downward:

a

: pitch

b

: a sharp downward course : drop

a dip in popularity

c

: the angle that a stratum or similar geologic feature makes with a horizontal plane

3

: the angle formed with the horizon by a magnetic needle free to rotate in the vertical plane

4

: hollow, depression

a dip in the road

5

: something obtained by or used in dipping

a dip of ice cream

a dip of snuff

6

a

: a sauce or soft mixture into which food may be dipped

bean dip

b

: a liquid preparation for the dipping of something

especially : an insecticide or parasiticide for the dipping of animals

a sheep dip

7

slang : pickpocket

dip

3 of 5

noun (2)

: a stupid or unsophisticated person

dip

4 of 5

abbreviation (1)

diploma

DIP

5 of 5

abbreviation (2)

dual in-line package; dual in-line packaging

Synonyms

Verb

• douse
• dowse
• duck
• dunk
• immerse
• souse
• sop
• submerge
• submerse

Noun (1)

• airhead
• birdbrain
• blockhead
• bonehead
• bubblehead
• chowderhead
• chucklehead
• clodpoll
• clodpole
• clot [British]
• cluck
• clunk
• cretin
• cuddy [British dialect]
• cuddie
• deadhead
• dim bulb [slang]
• dimwit
• dodo
• dolt
• donkey
• doofus [slang]
• dope
• dork [slang]
• dullard
• dum-dum
• dumbbell
• dumbhead
• dummkopf
• dummy
• dunce
• dunderhead
• fathead
• gander
• golem
• goof
• goon
• half-wit
• hammerhead
• hardhead
• idiot
• ignoramus
• imbecile
• jackass
• know-nothing
• knucklehead
• lamebrain
• loggerhead [chiefly dialect]
• loon
• lump
• lunkhead
• meathead
• mome [archaic]
• moron
• mug [chiefly British]
• mutt
• natural
• nimrod [slang]
• nincompoop
• ninny
• ninnyhammer
• nit [chiefly British]
• nitwit
• noddy
• noodle
• numskull
• numbskull
• oaf
• pinhead
• prat [British]
• ratbag [chiefly Australian]
• saphead
• schlub [slang]
• shlub
• schnook [slang]
• simpleton
• stock
• stupe
• stupid
• thickhead
• turkey
• woodenhead
• yahoo
• yo-yo

Noun (2)

• declension
• decline
• declivity
• descent
• downgrade
• downhill
• fall
• hang
• hanging

Examples of dip in a Sentence

Verb

Use a ladle to dip some water out of the pot.

dipping water from a well

The sun dipped below the horizon.

The road dips over the hill.

I saw his head dip below the surface of the water.

Noun (1)

how did that dip get through medical school?

Noun (2)

marathoners have one last dip before the race course levels off and the finish line comes into view

the city's population has taken a slight dip since the last census

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

By the weekend, the overnight temperatures in most of the region will dip into the 30s. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Unemployment dipped to its lowest level in 54 years in 2023 and stayed within a desirable range. —Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

Use it for everything from creaming butter and sugar to making creamy dips to whipping egg whites into meringues. —Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024

French onion soup and dip mix: This is an easy way to add extra flavor to the pot roast mixture. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English dippen, from Old English dyppan; akin to Old High German tupfen to wash, Lithuanian dubus deep

Noun (2)

back-formation from dippy

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1932, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dip

• dip net
• dip/put/stick a toe in the water
• dip switch
• double-dip
• French dip
• French dip sandwich
• lucky dip
• skinny-dip

Kids Definition

dip

1 of 2 verb

ˈdip 

dipped; dipping

1

: to sink or push briefly into or as if into a liquid

dip a towel in water

dips a hand into his pocket

2

: to lift out with something that holds liquid : ladle

dip water from a pail

3

: to lower and then raise again

dip a flag in salute

4

a

: to drop down into a liquid and quickly come out

oars dipping rhythmically

b

: to put something for treatment under the surface of a liquid

5

a

: to drop down or out of sight

the road dipped below the crest

b

: to decrease somewhat usually for a short time

prices dipped

6

: to reach down inside or as if inside especially to take out a part of the contents

dipped into their savings

7

: to look at or consider something briefly

especially : to read a little of something

dip into a book

dip

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of dipping

especially : a brief plunge into the water for sport or exercise

2

a

: a downward slope

b

: a sharp or slight downward course : drop

a dip in prices

3

: the angle formed with the horizon by a magnetic needle free to rotate in a vertical plane

4

: something obtained by or used in dipping

a dip of ice cream

5

a

: a sauce or soft mixture into which food (as raw vegetables) may be dipped

b

: a liquid into which something may be dipped (as for cleansing or coloring)

Medical Definition

dip

1 of 3 transitive verb

ˈdip 

dipped; dipping

: to immerse (as a sheep or hog) in an antiseptic or parasiticidal solution

dip

2 of 3 noun

1

: a liquid preparation of an insecticide, parasiticide, or fungicide which is applied to animals by immersing them in it

a sheep dip

2

: a vat or tank in which dip is used

DIP

3 of 3 abbreviation

distal interphalangeal