Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

dripping

American  
[drip-ing] / ˈdrɪp ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of something that drips.

  2. Often drippings.

    1. the liquid that drips.

    2. fat and juices exuded from meat in cooking, used for basting, for making gravy, or as a cooking fat.

dripping British  
/ ˈdrɪpɪŋ /

noun

  1. the fat exuded by roasting meat

  2. (often plural) liquid that falls in drops

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. (intensifier)

    dripping wet
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dripping

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; drip, -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing dripping

Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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.

"When you get hit, it hurts, but it's mostly your pride that takes the blow," said Toshihiro Takahashi, a 48-year-old civil servant dripping with sweat after his match.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Stalagmites, which grow over time from mineral deposits left by dripping water, act as natural records of past rainfall.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

The room was uncooled and water was dripping down the walls from a leaky ceiling.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

I’d seen the series countless times, often quoting the hilarious lines that she delivered with such singular eccentricity — dripping with sequin-laced cunning.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

We both stare at the water dripping from the walls of the open garage.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

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.