sip

¹ American  

[sip] / sɪp /

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.

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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 American  

1. supplemental income plan.

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sip British  

/ sɪp /

verb

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

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noun

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

2. an act of sipping

Related Words

See drink.

Other Word Forms

• sipper noun
• sippingly adverb
• unsipped adjective

Etymology

Origin of sip

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

Example Sentences

Coffee and fruit is a popular pairing among Vietnam’s younger drinkers, including those inside Blackbird’s Old Quarter location, where teens and 20-somethings sip espresso drinks spiked with banana, mango, pomegranate, kumquat, sugar cane and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

A street away, at "Chacho's" cafe, customers in sunglasses sip lattes and matcha tea.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

I carry my fix to a street side table facing Carrer de Provença and sit quietly, sip my café con leche and nibble my bocadillo, and watch more passersby point and smile.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

"Just sip water, that's more than good enough and keep your hard-earned money for other things."

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2026

Boaz stirred a generous heap of sugar into his coffee before taking a sip.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• imbibe
• quaff
• savor