adj
tepid
TEH-pihd
Tepid (adj) means Lukewarm — neither warm nor cool. Example: “She washed her hands in tepid water from the tap.”
adj
1
Lukewarm — neither warm nor cool.
"She washed her hands in tepid water from the tap."
"The soup had gone tepid by the time he sat down to eat."
2
Showing little enthusiasm or passion; half-hearted.
"The critics gave the film a tepid response."
"His tepid applause made it obvious he hadn't enjoyed the show."
How to use tepid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBarely warm — used literally for liquids and figuratively for a lack of enthusiasm.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tepid water
tepid response
tepid reception
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more tepid
- Superlative
- most tepid
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She washed her hands in _____ water from the tap.
Etymology
From Latin tepidus, "lukewarm," related to tepere, "to be warm."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for tepid
See all rhymes for tepid →Frequently asked questions
What does “tepid” mean?
The word “tepid” means lukewarm — neither warm nor cool. In plain terms, barely warm — used literally for liquids and figuratively for a lack of enthusiasm.
How do you pronounce “tepid”?
“Tepid” is pronounced TEH-pihd (/ˈtɛpɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “tepid” in a sentence?
Here is “tepid” used in a sentence: “She washed her hands in tepid water from the tap.”
What part of speech is “tepid”?
“Tepid” is an adjective.
Where does the word “tepid” come from?
The word “tepid” comes from Latin. From Latin tepidus, "lukewarm," related to tepere, "to be warm.".
How many meanings does “tepid” have?
“Tepid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lukewarm — neither warm nor cool.
