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
Recent Examples on the Web
To be fair, in terms of misinformation, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
In college, a friend of mine played a bass that was built in 1850s Germany, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
—Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — more artists are expected to be announced in the future.
—EW.com, 5 Feb. 2025
That’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as new music this week.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
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Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
In college, a friend of mine played a bass that was built in 1850s Germany, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
—Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — more artists are expected to be announced in the future.
—EW.com, 5 Feb. 2025
That’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as new music this week.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg
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 4 Mar. 2025.
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