ripply

[ rip-lee ]

adjective

1. characterized by ripples; ripple; rippling. ripple.
2. sounding like rippling ripple water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ripply¹

First recorded in 1765–75; ripple ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

But ABC is charting new territory with its GQ brigade, the first ripply abbed, all-male journalism revue.

From The Daily Beast

A little ripply, cool breeze begun to blow, and that was as good as saying the night was about done.

From Project Gutenberg

Then again she brushed and brushed, until the ripply mass shone like unto burnished gold.

From Project Gutenberg

A pretty girl she was, with eyes as blue as a lake and ripply hair she wore in a big knot.

From Project Gutenberg

The lights blurred out completely, and were replaced by a diffused illumination over the entire ripply barrier.

From Project Gutenberg

And the boats rolled happily with charming ripply noises till the water was calm and quiet again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rough
• uneven

More About Ripply

What does ripply mean?

Ripply is used to describe things that have ripples—small waves, ruffles, or wrinkles on a surface, such as water, fabric, clouds, or hair.

A raindrop causes ripples in a puddle. A soft gust of wind can cause ripples on the surface of a lake, on the surface of a sheet hanging from a clothesline, or through the tall grasses in the meadow. Ripples aren’t typically breaks in the surface where they appear—they are disturbances that change its shape momentarily.

The word can also be applied to waves or wrinkles involving intangible or abstract things, such as ripples of cause and effect, but ripply is typically used in the context of tangible things.

Ripple can also refer to a cascading sound, like that of rippling water. Ripply is sometimes used to describe the sound of such water.

Example: I love how the wind makes the surface of the lake ripply.

Where does ripply come from?

The first records of the word ripply come from around 1770. Ripple may derive from the verb rip, but its origin is uncertain. The suffix -y is used to form adjectives.

Throwing a pebble into water causes ripples and makes the water ripply. Wind can make the water ripply in a different way—instead of causing rings to extend out, it causes tiny peaks and waves on the surface. A fabric with small peaks, wrinkles, or crinkles in it can also be described as ripply. Believe it or not, as fun as the word is to say, it’s not commonly used.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of ripply?

• ripple (noun, verb)

What are some synonyms for ripply?

• rippled
• wavy
• ruffled
• wrinkly

What are some words that share a root or word element with ripply? 

• ripple effect
• ripplet
• riffle

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing ripply?

 

• water
• wind
• lake
• pond
• surface

How is ripply used in real life?

The word ripply is most commonly used in the context of small waves on surfaces like water, but it can be used in many different situations.

This year I'm going to try and actually keep up with #inktober2020. Yesterday's prompt was "fish," so here's my attempt at a koi in a ripply pond. pic.twitter.com/vkkKAznSKx

— Ben Balas (@bjbalas) October 2, 2020

I don't even think they had mirrors until, like, 1953, and have you ever tried looking at your ripply reflection in a pond, with FISH in iT

— Mike Pridgen (@MikesComedy) January 28, 2016

Oh, look at you, sitting there on the surface of Mars, looking all ripply and wavy and beautiful… where did you come from? How did you get here? How long have you been sitting there, with the icy martian wind hissing over you..? pic.twitter.com/I5X50GDvqp

— mars_stu (@mars_stu) December 15, 2017

 

 

Try using ripply!

Which of the following things can be ripply?

A. water
B. fabric
C. clouds
D. all of the above