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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

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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

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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

The chat box messages zip by with lightning speed.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026

Zvika Manes told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that he and other passengers tied the attacker up "with his own zip ties and with the multimedia headphones".

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Elsewhere on Saturday, French luxury house Hermes presented its women's collection in the courtyard of the elite Republican Guard police unit in Paris, making the zip its leitmotif and the ultra-fine strap an accessory.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

Atop a low credenza, he displayed a black, leather suitcase that housed inside of it an old laptop attached to an external zip drive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The tunnels of the Underground zip past the windows.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

The French brand is analyzing Zip Code data to zero in on pockets of growing U.S. affluence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

Ruth had recently bought the trademark rights to the digital storage systems iOmega, Zip and Jaz.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

In one report, Realtor.com found that in the 43 Zip codes where large data centers went up between 2019 and 2025, home prices went up at a “nearly identical rate” as in areas without them.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

The first day of the month of Zip, for example, was usually called the “installation” or “seating” of Zip.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Samira says she managed to get Sevda to hospital and she was told they were operating on her, but then the door opened and she saw Sevda had been zipped into a body bag.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

I zipped through to the TSA checkpoint at SFO without having to pass through one or two representatives and a kiosk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 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

First, there was the child who zipped his entire face inside the hood of his green sweatshirt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026

Raising his head, Kyle gained altitude and zipped across the sky.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Building independence can also help bridge the gap between home and school life, she says, by encouraging your child to do some things by themselves, such as zipping up their own coat.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Chargers rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson said he doesn’t love zipping around.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

Engineers at SpaceX have acknowledged difficulties developing the rocket, which they hope in the future to operate more like a plane zipping in and out of airports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

While hurtling through deep space and zipping around the Moon, the Artemis astronauts took thousands of photographs, amassing a stunning portfolio of images.

From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026

Out on the porch that night, Bertha told Gus about her day while I sent my thoughts zipping through the trees to wherever Wishbone was.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

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Related Words

• oomph
• pep
• sparkle
• verve
• vigor

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