dip into
Britishverb
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to draw (upon)
he dipped into his savings
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to read (passages) at random or cursorily in (a book, newspaper, etc)
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Investigate superficially, as in He began to dip into Chaucer , or She's just dipping into psychology . This expression alludes to plunging briefly into a liquid. [Late 1600s]
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Withdraw something in small amounts, usually money, as in I'll have to dip into my savings . This usage employs dip into in the sense of plunging one's hand or a ladle into a pot, water, or the like for the purpose of taking something out. [Early 1800s]
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.
“The intensity of those games, the environments that you have to dip into and get results, you find out a lot about the players and find out a lot about the team,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
For a little extra flair toast some baguette wedges to dip into the savory mixture.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
Is now a good time to dip into our savings?
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Some pharmacists have told the BBC they have had to remortgage their homes or dip into pensions to keep their businesses afloat while waiting for reimbursement prices to catch up with soaring costs.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
He strained closer, his ear beginning to dip into the water .
From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin
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.
