dip

15 synonyms and 2 antonyms for dip, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To lower something briefly into a liquid.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

drop decline duck fall

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

dunk plunge dim sink inclination

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

immerse submerge souse douse pickpocket cutpurse

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To lower something briefly into a liquid.

“Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate and leave them to set.”

dunk plunge immerse submerge drop decline dim sink souse duck douse

2. verb

To drop slightly in level, value, or amount.

“Sales tend to dip in January once the holiday shopping ends.”

Opposites

rise

3. noun

A thick sauce for dunking food such as chips or vegetables.

“Would you like hummus or salsa as a dip with your carrot sticks?”

plunge pickpocket fall inclination cutpurse drop

4. noun

A slight downward slope or drop in a surface.

“The cyclist slowed as the track made a dip towards the stream.”

Opposites

ascent rise

How to use dip

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

dip in prices take a dip dip into savings chips and dip

Etymology

From Old English dyppan, related to the word "deep."

Full origin of dip →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dip” mean?

The word “dip” means to lower something briefly into a liquid. In plain terms, to lower briefly into liquid, to drop slightly, or (as a noun) a sauce, a quick swim, or a small downward slope.

How do you pronounce “dip”?

“Dip” is pronounced dihp (/dɪp/ in IPA).

How do you use “dip” in a sentence?

Here is “dip” used in a sentence: “She dipped the brush into the paint.”

What part of speech is “dip”?

Depending on how it is used, “dip” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “dip” come from?

The word “dip” comes from Old English. From Old English dyppan, related to the word "deep.".

Is “dip” a common word?

“Dip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “dip” have?

“Dip” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to lower something briefly into a liquid.

What is the difference between dip and dunk?

Both involve putting something into a liquid, but to dip is to lower it briefly and often only partly, while to dunk usually means pushing it right in, especially food into a drink, as in dunking a biscuit in tea. Dunk is the more informal word of the two.

Is a dip the same as a sauce?

A dip is a particular kind of sauce: one made thick enough for dunking food such as chips, crackers, or vegetables into it. Sauces in general can be much thinner and are often poured over food rather than used for dunking.

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fall drop rise decline duck sink dim ascent dunk plunge inclination souse

Nearby words

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