adj

tipsy

TIHP-see

Tipsy (adj) means Slightly drunk; unsteady from alcohol. Example: “After two glasses of wine, she was pleasantly tipsy.”

adj

Slightly drunk; unsteady from alcohol.

"After two glasses of wine, she was pleasantly tipsy."

"He got a bit tipsy at the wedding reception."

How to use tipsy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA bit drunk, but not fully intoxicated.

Common mistake

Tipsy is milder than "drunk" — it suggests a light, often cheerful buzz rather than serious intoxication.

Easily confused with

drunk → sloshed →

Common pairings

a bit tipsy feeling tipsy get tipsy

tipsier comparative, tipsiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tipsy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

After two glasses of wine, she was pleasantly _____.

From "tips" plus -y, on the same pattern as "artsy" or "folksy."

merry squiffy precarious tottering wobbly rickety

happy active dangerous drunk pray loose unstable merry

What does “tipsy” mean?

The word “tipsy” means slightly drunk; unsteady from alcohol. In plain terms, a bit drunk, but not fully intoxicated.

How do you pronounce “tipsy”?

“Tipsy” is pronounced TIHP-see (/ˈtɪp.si/ in IPA).

How do you use “tipsy” in a sentence?

Here is “tipsy” used in a sentence: “After two glasses of wine, she was pleasantly tipsy.”

What is another word for “tipsy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “tipsy” include merry, squiffy, precarious, tottering, wobbly and rickety.

What part of speech is “tipsy”?

“Tipsy” is an adjective.

happy active dangerous drunk pray loose unstable merry