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• zip
  zip

  noun

  a sudden, brief hissing sound, as of a bullet.
• Zip
  Zip

  a floppy disk form of storage for computer data with a capacity of 100–750 MB, used primarily in the 1990s.

zip

¹ American  

[zip] / zɪp /

noun

1. a sudden, brief hissing sound, as of a bullet.

2. Informal. energy; vim; vigor.

   Wow, you've got zip today—too much coffee this morning?

   Synonyms:

   vitality, vivacity, verve, dash, pep

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verb (used without object)

zipped, zipping

1. to move with a zipping sound.

2. Informal. to act or move with speed or energy.

   I'll just zip upstairs.

verb (used with object)

Informal.

zipped, zipping

1. to convey with speed and energy.

   I'll zip you downtown on my motorcycle.

2. to add vitality or zest to (usually followed byup ).

   A little garlic zips up a salad.

zip ² American  

[zip] / zɪp /

verb (used with object)

zipped, zipping

1. to fasten or unfasten with a zipper: Zip open the traveling case.

   Zip your jacket.

   Zip open the traveling case.

2. to enclose or free by doing up or undoing a zipper.

   Zip this money into your wallet. Zip me out of my dress.

3. Computers. to compress (a file) in archive format, so it requires less memory to save and store it.

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verb (used without object)

zipped, zipping

1. to become fastened or unfastened by means of a zipper.

   a handy purse that zips shut.

2. to do up or undo a zipper.

noun

1. zipper.

adjective

1. utilizing or having a zipper.

   a coat with a zip front.

2. Computers. of or relating to a method of file compression.

   a zip file.

zip ³ American  

[zip] / zɪp /

noun

1. zero or nothing.

   The score of last night's hockey game was 4–zip.

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verb (used with object)

zipped, zipping

1. (in sports) to defeat by keeping an opponent from scoring.

   The home team was zipped again yesterday.

zip ⁴ American  

[zip] / zɪp /

noun

1. zip code.

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Zip ⁵ American  

[zip] / zɪp /

Trademark.

1. a floppy disk form of storage for computer data with a capacity of 100–750 MB, used primarily in the 1990s.

   a Zip drive;

   a Zip disk.

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zip ¹ British  

/ zɪp /

noun

1. 1. Also called: zip fastener.  US and Canadian term: zipper.  a fastening device operating by means of two parallel rows of metal or plastic teeth on either side of a closure that are interlocked by a sliding tab

   2. (modifier) having or equipped with such a device

      a zip bag

2. a short sharp whizzing sound, as of a passing bullet

3. informal energy; vigour; vitality

4. slang nothing

5. slang sport nil

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verb

1. to fasten (clothing, a bag, etc) with a zip

2. (intr) to move with a zip

   the bullet zipped past

3. (intr; often foll by along, through, etc) to hurry; rush

   they zipped through town

4. (tr) computing to compress (a file) in order to reduce the amount of memory required to store it or to make sending it electronically quicker

Zip ² British  

/ zɪp /

noun

1. an electric water heater

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Other Word Forms

• zipless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of zip¹

First recorded in 1850–55; imitative of the sound

Origin of zip²

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; back formation from zipper

Origin of zip³

First recorded in 1895–1900; apparently an expressive word, with z- of zero; cf. zilch

Origin of zip⁴

By ellipsis

Explanation

To zip is to close with a zipper. Also, zip means zilch, which is zero or nothing. Make sure to zip your wallet because if everything falls out, you’ll have zip. Zip as in “to close with a zipper” is short for — you guessed it — zipper. If you're cold, zip up your coat. If you zip your lips, you’re not using a zipper but you’re closing your mouth. Zip meaning “nothing” came from kids in the 1900s when they referred to getting a zero on a test. Now, if you have zip, you have nothing, and not just on a test.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zip Zip zipped zipping

Ben Earl and Freeman were both close to claiming clever kicks ahead with the tryline close at hand, with Jack van Poortvliet bringing some of the zip that was sorely absent in Johannesburg.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Even after his release, his combat-gear-clad image, zip ties in hand, became a visual he couldn’t outrun.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

Millions of exhaust-belching motorbikes zip through Hanoi's narrow streets every day fuelling its chronic air pollution, but authorities have backtracked from an ambitious plan to ban them in favour of electric two-wheelers.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

Delinquency rates as a share of U.S. household debt hit a nine-year high in the fourth quarter and were concentrated in lower-income zip codes, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

After the school bus drops me off, I zip up my jacket and walk as quick as I can along the shoulder of Route 3.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Mr. duPont is a co-founder of Chartline Capital and Zip Code Wilmington.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

Block’s company Afterpay, Sezzle and Zip also received the letter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

Zip World has eight sites across Wales and England, including the world's fastest zip line - Velocity - at Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2025

Zip through suburbs, working-class communities, rolling hills and all sorts of Spanish-named streets until reuniting with the 5 in San Ysidro.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024

Zip, and then zip; zip, and then zip; he was enchanted.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Hershey Pa.’s Christian Pulisic set up a sequence that led to a Paraguay own goal, and then, not long after, zipped a centering pass to the 24-year-old Balogun to make it 2-0.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

“It’s a safety issue,” O’Connor said from his deck as an e-biker zipped past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

Drawstrings along the shorts allow for adjustable length, a high turtleneck can be zipped up or pulled down for breathability, and reflective elements make the piece visible at night.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

Then he zipped up the bag, slammed the car door shut, and walked out of the lot, onto the sidewalk, and off down the street.

From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2026

“What are you doing?” asked Sydney, who walked in to find Brooklyn sprawled across the overstuffed suitcase, using her body weight to hold it closed while she zipped it.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

"I started thinking about what it would be like for us to go for a walk as a family if there were dozens of robots with lights and cameras zipping around."

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

The high-speed train zipping from Shanghai to Beijing puts to shame the Amtrak Acela running half as fast between New York and Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

It’s a lively university town with breweries everywhere, bikes zipping past on nearly every street, and the kind of easy smiles and hellos that make Midwest nice feel real.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026

Black-clad men are seen stationed near roundabouts, zipping through deserted streets on scooters or inspecting buildings reduced to rubble.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026

Eventually the Second helped him get all five throwing stars zipping in circles overhead, their strange dark shapes flitting like bats.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Related Words

• oomph
• pep
• sparkle
• verve
• vigor