quip
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a sarcastic or cutting remark; gibe
-
a witty or clever saying
a merry quip
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archaic another word for quibble
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has quippedperfect 3rd person singular
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have quippedperfect
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am quippingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been quippingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is quippingprogressive 3rd person singular
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quipssingular 3rd person
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have been quippingperfect progressive
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are quippingprogressive
-
quippingparticiple
Past
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had quippedperfect
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had been quippingperfect progressive
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were quippingprogressive plural
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quippedsimple
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was quippingprogressive singular
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quippedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of quip
1525–35; back formation from quippy quip < Latin quippe indeed
Explanation
A quip — a short, witty comment — can be pleasant, wise, or sarcastic, but usually carries an element of humor. A quip is a witty or clever remark that sounds spur-of-the-moment. A successful quip must sound offhand, as though it were an afterthought, even if the speaker has been honing the statement for days. Dorothy Parker was a famous writer known for her quick quips, such as, "The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant — and let the air out of the tires."
Vocabulary lists containing quip
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Tricky Terms for April Fool's Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He quickly returned his gaze to Stern for another quip.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Some pointed to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s pre-dinner quip that there would be “shots fired” in Trump’s speech.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026
Thatcher’s quip raises an important question about the role of games in our lives.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Maybe Fifa president Gianni Infantino just thought he was making a light-hearted quip.
From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026
And he responded as he always did: with a quip.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
