tipsy

[tip-see]

adjective

tipsier, tipsiest 

1. slightly intoxicated or drunk.

2. characterized by or due to intoxication.

   a tipsy lurch.

3. tipping, unsteady, or tilted, as if from intoxication.

tipsy

/ ˈtɪpsɪ /

adjective

1. slightly drunk

2. slightly tilted or tipped; askew

Other Word Forms

• tipsily adverb
• tipsiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipsy¹

1570–80; tip ² or obsolete tip strong drink (perhaps back formation from tipple ¹ ) + -sy. Compare obsolete bumpsy in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipsy¹

C16: from _tip ²

Example Sentences

Lady Constance flew to her feet and chasséd giddily around the room like a tipsy ballerina.

Read more on Literature

As we get older, the liver metabolizes alcohol more slowly, so it lingers in our bloodstream longer and we get tipsy faster.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But this time around, while a little tipsy, the 34-year-old content creator and author went ahead and purchased four of Swift’s CD variants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The story is pure dialogue between the star, Baby, and director, Toner: They’ve forgotten much of the plot and tipsily put it together.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She could have been hungover, plastered, tipsy — you know, any place in it.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• addled 
• dazed 
• intoxicated 
• unsteady 
• woozy