sip

¹

[sip]

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.

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

1. supplemental income plan.

sip

/ sɪp /

verb

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

noun

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

2. an act of sipping

Other Word Forms

• sipper noun
• sippingly adverb
• unsipped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sip¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sip¹

C14: probably from Low German sippen

Synonym Study

See drink.

Example Sentences

When Laura Seymour sips coffee on her porch in rural Vermont this time of year, she’s treated to rolling hills of red, orange and yellow.

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Lifelong Sonoma resident John Balletto was raised by an Italian immigrant family who farmed fruits and vegetables and gave him his first sip of wine at age 8.

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Doncic takes a sip of water and starts outlining his summer regimen, which he launched in May in his home city of Ljubljana.

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Our only alone time was spent sipping wine in front of the TV after reading the boys’ bedtime stories.

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At one point, Stewart stepped away to vomit, took a sip of water then immediately returned to the drill.

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Related Words

• imbibe 
• quaff 
• savor