sip

1 of 2

verb

sipped; sipping; sips

intransitive verb

: to take a sip of something especially repeatedly
And, sipping on the beer, he remembered romantic days of yore …John Nichols
I boil some tea with the salty hut water and sit outside sipping away for a while watching a blanket of stars unfold …Clarissa Hirst

transitive verb

1
: to drink (something) in small quantities
On crowded, bustling Broadway there is a spot where one may sip espresso …The New York Times
Northern bats are more likely to eat insects than to sip nectar …Ann Lovejoy
2
: to take sips from (something)
sip complimentary glasses of Champagne.Harvey Steiman
sipper noun

sip

2 of 2

noun

plural sips
1
: a small amount of liquid taken into the mouth with the lips
Jimmy wriggled himself into a more comfortable position, and took a sip from his glass.P. G. Wodehouse
It's enormously complex, revealing new facets with every sip.Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2
: the act of sipping
Jews traditionally begin their weekly Sabbath meal with a sip of wine and a Hebrew prayer …Jeff Morgan

Examples of sip in a Sentence

Verb She sipped her coffee while she watched the sun rise. He sipped on the bottle of water. Noun there are a few sips left in the glass
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In a hotel ballroom in Palm Desert, a few hundred Garvey supporters sipped margaritas and ate appetizers. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The Pier Village downtown is great for spending an afternoon shopping, strolling, and sipping. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Dancing on sugar-sand beaches until the wee hours of the morning, sipping fresh coconuts on hammocks in palm tree groves, and vibing to that earthy, boho aesthetic are now integral to the Tulum experience. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 The afternoon following the show in late January, Minogue is in her favorite sweats, sipping tea in the empty Voltaire space and looking surprisingly awake. Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 The smart space is a relaxing spot to sip Champagne or cocktails crafted at the original leather bar while surrounded by parquet flooring, comfy club chairs, and live piano. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The crowd was mostly young, sipping on beer or water, and the restaurant’s vegetarian options seemed more popular than the burger. Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 The group also dug into Wagyu cheesesteak bites and crab legs while sipping on Coors Lights before hitting the casino floor for a little gambling. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 Open it in advance, pour it in a nondescript thermos and quietly sip it? Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
The lavender foam perfectly balances the matcha flavor, so every sip is a creamy, floral experience. Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 It’s got a light tart note, and a sharp crispness so that each sip begs you to take another swig. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 Feb. 2024 Rich notes of cassis, mission fig, and earthen clay greet you on the nose, while a sip reveals great acidity and driving length. Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 After his speech, Jay-Z poured a drink into his Grammy trophy and took a sip from it. TIME, 5 Feb. 2024 Enjoy a mineral plunge or sweat out your toxins inside the toasty sauna and steam room, followed by a warm herbal sips in the tea room. Kate Donnelly, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 There’s nothing worse than a lukewarm sip of beer but these glasses have a double walled insulation that can keep you beverage nice and chilled. Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024 The Stanley nameplates are built to last and withstand the rigors of everyday use, sip by sip. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024 Always having a sip of water by your side can be great for remembering to stay hydrated, but sometimes forming an attachment to a water bottle can lead to a fixation on hydration that could have serious health consequences if taken too far, according to medical experts. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sippen; akin to Low German sippen to sip

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of sip was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sip

Cite this Entry

“Sip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sip. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sip

1 of 2 verb
sipped; sipping
1
: to drink in small quantities or little by little
2
: to take sips from : taste
sipper noun

sip

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of sipping
2
: a small amount taken by sipping

More from Merriam-Webster on sip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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