sip

¹

[sip]

verb (used with object)

sipped, sipping 

1. to drink (a liquid) a little at a time; take small tastes of.

   He sipped the hot tea noisily.

2. to drink from a little at a time.

   The bird sipped the flower.

3. to take in; absorb.

   to sip knowledge at its source.

verb (used without object)

sipped, sipping 

1. to drink by sips.

noun

1. an instance of sipping; a small taste of a liquid.

   One sip told me that the milk was sour.

2. a small quantity taken by sipping.

   Take just a sip, not a gulp or a swallow.

SIP

²

1. supplemental income plan.

sip

/ sɪp /

verb

1. to drink (a liquid) by taking small mouthfuls; drink gingerly or delicately

noun

1. a small quantity of a liquid taken into the mouth and swallowed

2. an act of sipping

Other Word Forms

• sippingly adverb
• unsipped adjective
• sipper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sip¹

1350–1400; Middle English sippen (v.), akin to Low German sippen to sip

Word History and Origins

Origin of sip¹

C14: probably from Low German sippen

Synonym Study

See drink.

Example Sentences

Dressed in baggy jeans and a billowy linen shirt, she sips a green juice as a takeout bag from Sqirl sits next to her on a picnic table.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He told me about medics forced to sip glucose solution just to give themselves a little energy to carry on working.

Read more on BBC

Less smug but still rather inscrutable, he sips on tea and evades answering Arisu’s question directly, instead turning the tables.

Read more on Salon

There, dozens of people gather to start their day by sipping coffee while dancing to reggaeton and hip-hop.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lucinda Strafford can be seen filling a large gold-coloured vending machine with cans of Au Vodka before taking a sip and saying: "That is so good."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• imbibe 
• quaff 
• savor