snip
Americanverb (used with object)
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snips,
present (3rd person singular)
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snipped,
past participle, past
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snipping
present participle
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to cut with a small, quick stroke, or a succession of such strokes, with scissors or the like.
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to remove or cut off (something) by or as by cutting in this manner.
to snip a rose.
verb (used without object)
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snips,
present (3rd person singular)
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snipped,
past participle, past
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snipping
present participle
noun
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snips
plural
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the act of snipping, as with scissors.
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a small cut made by snipping.
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a small piece snipped off.
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a small piece, bit, or amount of anything.
a snip of food.
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Informal. a small or insignificant person.
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Informal. a presumptuous or impertinent person.
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snips, small, strong hand shears used by sheet metal workers.
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British Informal. a bargain.
verb
noun
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the act of snipping
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the sound of scissors or shears closing
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Also called: snipping. a small piece of anything, esp one that has been snipped off
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a small cut made by snipping
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an informal word for bargain
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informal something easily done; cinch
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informal a small or insignificant person or thing, esp an irritating or insolent one
interjection
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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snipsimple
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snipssimple
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have snippedperfect
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has snippedperfect
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am snippingprogressive
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are snippingprogressive
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is snippingprogressive
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have been snippingperfect progressive
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has been snippingperfect progressive
Past
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snippedsimple
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had snippedperfect
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was snippingprogressive
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were snippingprogressive
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had been snippingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of snip
1550–60; origin uncertain; compare Dutch, Low German snippen to snip, catch, clip
Explanation
To snip is to cut with short, quick strokes, the way you'd snip your bangs in the mirror, or snip off a loose thread hanging from your jacket. A gardener snips dead blooms from a plant so new ones can grow, and a dog groomer carefully snips the hair covering your terrier's face so she can see where she's going. Snip is also a noun: "I saved a snip of the baby's hair to put in your scrapbook." The noun came first, initially meaning "a small piece of cut out cloth." In the 16th century, it was also a common nickname for a tailor.
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:
They are quick to snip losses and quick to take profits.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
And it’s not just groceries that snip away at her Social Security check.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025
Artichoke Potato Salad, on the other hand, is ladies luncheon, serve in a pretty bowl, snip some fresh dill, bring on the flavor, bring on the texture, pizzaz-y potato salad.
From Salon ● May 9, 2024
Also based in the hall, Tara Mellor from Geek's Barbers is trying to snip away at rising food costs, which have doubled for her six-person household.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2024
“Are we to snip no more? There is metal left over.”
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
While it has been directed with careful attention to shaping its emotional arc by Tim Jackson, “Two Strangers” might have amplified its charms with a few snips of the scissors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
Rpn11 snips off these tags, enabling the misfolded protein to slip into the proteasome core for disassembly.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
The scientists attached this tag to protein toxins and the gene-editing enzyme Cas9, a large molecular scissors that snips DNA at a location specified by a molecule that guides the scissors to the right place.
From Scientific American ● Mar. 29, 2023
The whirring of four electric sewing machines, snips from two industrial-sized scissors and the sizzle of moist fabric as steam billows from a large pressing iron.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2023
“No, the vet just snips the tube. There’s nothing to see on the outside.”
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
More often than not, these were just simple ranches made with care — good buttermilk, what was probably Duke’s and a handful of punchy herbs snipped into a stainless steel mixing bowl.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2025
When the tag’s snipped off, he’s delighted, and leaves quickly after exchanging a few words with Karen Lee, the director of the Community Corrections Command.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2024
Perhaps you feel sad that the life of your placenta was cut short, snipped from existence.
From Slate ● Sep. 7, 2024
Insert the pastry bag or snipped corner of the plastic bag into the hole on the side of the doughnut.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2023
Inside, the price has been snipped away on the diagonal.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
They then lug heavy loads back home, spreading the seaweed out on the ground and snipping off residue.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
The woman who had once dreamed of ballet and the Olympics now was snipping stray threads off underwear, under orders to “minimize bathroom breaks.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
"But if we can do gene therapy that doesn't involve snipping DNA strands, then we avoid these potential pitfalls."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 5, 2026
There was no tow on Verstappen's second lap, but he nevertheless improved further, snipping 0.088secs off his own time.
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025
“Stuff and nonsense,” she said, and kept on snipping the blossoms.
From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
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.
