quip
Americannoun
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quips
plural
verb (used without object)
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quips,
present (3rd person singular)
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quipped,
past participle, past
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quipping
present participle
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
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quipsimple
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quipssimple
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have quippedperfect
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has quippedperfect
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am quippingprogressive
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are quippingprogressive
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is quippingprogressive
-
have been quippingperfect progressive
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has been quippingperfect progressive
Past
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quippedsimple
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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
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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.
See Examples For:
No filmmaker working today is as merciless with a quip.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
The quip got a mild chuckle out of Mastro, though not much more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
However, when Minton Beddoes noted his almost 250 million followers on X at one point during the interview, Musk was quick to quip: "Popular guy".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The gag happens again, leading a blue fish to famously quip, “How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?”
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026
“We don’t have room for that,” I quip.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
Bushby quips: "You guys know you drive on the wrong side of the road, right?"
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
In short, though the film is inspired by reality, it takes place elsewhere, in Sorkinland—the place where everyone speaks in quips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Nevertheless, one of the Time journalists gamely quips in response: “I would have if I had the opportunity.”
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026
The British adventurer makes her acrobatic moves against a background of realistic graphics, complete with her trademark sarcastic quips.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
“You ain’t got to buy it,” Shorty quips.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
“Everybody was just looking for a breathing body,” quipped Chad Moutray, senior vice president for industry research at the National Restaurant Association.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
He also has quipped that investors should usually bet against companies spending lavishly on real estate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
He quipped that during his nine seasons with the Broncos, he worked with eight or nine punter/holders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Talarico reshared the center's post and quipped that he had "never even been to Ohio," while his press secretary blasted the claims as "a pathetic conspiracy theory."
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
"I envy your father all these fine friends," Lannister quipped, "but I do not quite see the purpose of this, Lady Stark."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Carney says the EU is a logical partner, quipping that his country is "the most European of non-European countries."
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
The Metro tops with Burnham's plans to "close subscription traps", quipping that he wants "a cancel culture".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
His bespectacled, quipping presence lent the show some book-world class, the new medium poaching prestige from the old.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
This achievement is all the more remarkable considering that, in the next theater over, Fanning was punching, kicking and quipping in “Predator: Badlands.”
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
It was the meeting-place of the little "quoting, quipping, quaffing" club of fellow-workers in Bohemia; and Lemon, it was explained, had dabbled both in verse and the lighter drama, efforts which were "not half bad."
From The History of "Punch" by M. H. (Marion Harry) Spielmann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
