quip
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a sarcastic or cutting remark; gibe
-
a witty or clever saying
a merry quip
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archaic another word for quibble
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have quippedperfect
-
has quippedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been quippingperfect progressive
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are quippingprogressive
-
has been quippingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is quippingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am quippingprogressive 1st person singular
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quipssingular 3rd person
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quippingparticiple
Past
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had quippedperfect
-
were quippingprogressive plural
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had been quippingperfect progressive
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was quippingprogressive singular
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quippedsimple
-
quippedparticiple
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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Tricky Terms for April Fool's Day
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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.
When America was awarded hosting rights for the 1994 tournament, it was met with a quip and a sneer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Others pointed to Karoline Leavitt’s quip before the dinner that during Trump’s speech there would be “shots fired.”
From Slate • Apr. 26, 2026
It was Ferguson's quip after narrowly beating Leeds, suggesting teams "raise their game" against Manchester United, that proved the spark for Keegan's famous rant.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
Heard someone quip that we live in an era of kids with face tattoos making Adult Contemporary music and well, here we are with Alex Warren .
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026
Later generations of Romans would quip that what the Barbarians had failed to destroy, the Barberinis stole.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
