trickle

3 synonyms and 4 antonyms for trickle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

filter

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

drip

Rare, literary or technical

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

dribble

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.

“Just a trickle of water came from the tap.”

filter drip dribble

Opposites

torrent

2. verb

To flow slowly in a thin stream, drop by drop.

“Sweat trickled down her back in the heat.”

filter dribble

Opposites

rush pour gush

How to use trickle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a trickle of water trickle down trickle in

Etymology

From Middle English triklen, which grew out of an older word striklen ("to trickle") after speakers misheard where one word ended and the next began — the same kind of slip that gave us "an apron" from "a napron."

Full origin of trickle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “trickle” mean?

The word “trickle” means a thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way. In plain terms, a slow, thin flow — of liquid, or of anything (like news or visitors) arriving bit by bit.

How do you pronounce “trickle”?

“Trickle” is pronounced TRIH-kuhl (/ˈtɹɪkəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “trickle” in a sentence?

Here is “trickle” used in a sentence: “Just a trickle of water came from the tap.”

What part of speech is “trickle”?

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

Where does the word “trickle” come from?

The word “trickle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English triklen, which grew out of an older word striklen ("to trickle") after speakers misheard where one word ended and the next began — the same kind of slip that gave us "an apron" from "a napron.".

Is “trickle” a common word?

“Trickle” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “trickle” have?

“Trickle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.

People also searched

rush filter pour drip torrent gush dribble

Nearby words

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