adj

tepid

TEH-pihd

Tepid (adj) means Lukewarm — neither warm nor cool. Example: “She washed her hands in tepid water from the tap.”

adj

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."

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 notes

In plain EnglishBarely warm — used literally for liquids and figuratively for a lack of enthusiasm.

Common pairings

tepid water tepid response tepid reception

Word forms

more tepid comparative, most tepid superlative

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She washed her hands in _____ water from the tap.

Etymology

From Latin tepidus, "lukewarm," related to tepere, "to be warm."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for tepid

intrepid

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.