quip
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a sarcastic or cutting remark; gibe
-
a witty or clever saying
a merry quip
-
archaic another word for quibble
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
quipsimple
-
quipssimple
-
have quippedperfect
-
has quippedperfect
-
am quippingprogressive
-
are quippingprogressive
-
is quippingprogressive
-
have been quippingperfect progressive
-
has been quippingperfect progressive
Past
-
quippedsimple
-
had quippedperfect
-
was quippingprogressive
-
were quippingprogressive
-
had been quippingperfect progressive
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
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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!
Tricky Terms for April Fool's Day
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Wonder
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Later, when Bond is whisked to Vietnam, the orchestra swells with suave panache, immersing you in the action before 007 has even uttered a quip.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
If the Wayans were able to slip in a joke about Taylor, why didn’t they cut a separate quip about horror never winning Oscars, when Amy Madigan won for “Weapons” the same night?
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
He quickly returned his gaze to Stern for another quip.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Kimmel has refused to apologize and remains defiant on air, pointing out on his Tuesday show that Donald made a quip about his own mortality to Melania during King Charles’ White House visit.
From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026
If I were Lily, I’d have just the right quip for him.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
