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verb Uncommon

drip

DRIHP
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Drip (verb) means to fall in individual drops. Example: “Water dripped from the leaking tap all night.”

verb
1
To fall in individual drops.
"Water dripped from the leaking tap all night."
2
To leak or release liquid slowly.
"The old roof drips whenever it rains hard."
noun
1
A single drop of liquid falling, or a device that slowly releases fluid, such as an intravenous drip.
"The nurse hooked the patient up to a drip."
2
(informal) Stylish, fashionable clothing or overall style.
"Everyone was complimenting his drip at the party."

How to use drip

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiquid falling drop by drop, an IV feeding tube in a hospital, or (slang) someone's fashion sense.

When to use it

The "fashionable style" sense is informal slang, common in youth and hip-hop culture.

Common pairings
drip feed IV drip have drip
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Word forms

Plural
drips
Third person singular
drips
Past tense
dripped
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old roof _____ whenever it rains hard.

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English drippen, druppen, from Old English drypan, from Proto-Germanic *drupjaną (“to fall in drops, drip”), from Proto-Germanic *drupô (“drop”). It is related to West Frisian drippe (“to drip”), Dutch druipen, druppelen (“to drip”), German Low German drüppen (“to drip”), German tropfen, tröpfeln (“to drip”), Norwegian Bokmål dryppe, and Norwegian Nynorsk drypa (“to drip”).

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
trickle dribble drop dripping

Antonyms

gush

Related words

include miss fall lower increase lose drop spend

Rhymes for drip

rip grip trip strip scrip
See all rhymes for drip →

Frequently asked questions

What does “drip” mean?
The word “drip” means to fall in individual drops. In plain terms, liquid falling drop by drop, an IV feeding tube in a hospital, or (slang) someone's fashion sense.
How do you pronounce “drip”?
“Drip” is pronounced DRIHP (/ˈdɹɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “drip” in a sentence?
Here is “drip” used in a sentence: “Water dripped from the leaking tap all night.”
What part of speech is “drip”?
Depending on how it is used, “drip” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “drip” a common word?
“Drip” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “drip” have?
“Drip” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall in individual drops.
What does "drip" mean when used to describe someone's style?
In informal usage, "drip" refers to stylish, fashionable clothing or a person's overall style, as in "his drip is on point." This slang sense is unrelated to the literal meaning of liquid falling in drops.
What is the difference between "drip" and "leak"?
"Drip" describes liquid falling in individual drops or releasing slowly, often at a controlled or gradual rate, such as a tap that drips. "Leak" more broadly describes liquid (or gas) escaping from somewhere it shouldn't, which can happen slowly or quickly and often implies a fault or damage.
What is a medical "drip"?
A medical "drip" refers to a device that slowly releases fluid into a patient's body, such as an intravenous drip, and is a common noun use of "drip" in healthcare settings.

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include miss fall lower increase lose drop spend