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
Plus, 7-Eleven has two limited-time flavors to sip on: Vitamin Water XXX Zero Sugar and Mtn Dew Pitch Black. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 The event continued to the VIP rooftop, where a packed crowd sipped champagne and Pellegrino and munched on caviar blinis while seeking shade from the 6 PM pre-summer sun. Samantha Brooks, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024 In addition to being used in an Espresso Martini or other cocktails, XO Cafe is meant to be sipped or even poured over your favorite dessert. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024 Here hotel guests swim laps or sip sparkling rosé tucked into ice buckets while members work on a laptop or practice the old Hollywood tradition of the poolside meeting. Sunset Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024 Alternatively, sip martinis in style at Jacques Bar or unwind at the guests-only Club Room. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024 Later, many of them joined the daily flock gathered poolside at the historic Colony Hotel, sipping cocktails served by young men in pink shirts. Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024 Stick around to sip a can of Milca, a fluorescent red soda with a bubblegum taste similar to Peru’s Inca Kola, and Gomez-Guzman might give you a free geopolitical lesson. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024 There’s also the annual Verde Valley Wine Festival to sip a little bit of everything and sample what the state has to offer. Patrice J. Williams, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Wearing black and gold Versace sunglasses and a GPS ankle monitor above his black and yellow Jordans, Abrego spoke between sips from a smoothie and hits of cannabis wax from a glass pipe. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024 The event will feature bites and sips from Cardiff’s top restaurants, bars and retailers. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 The hotel is hosting a special event that will allow ticketed guests to watch the big show, participate in a contest, listen to harpist Sara Kawai and indulge in sips and drinks. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 Smashing Sunshine Straying away from strawberry renditions of traditional cocktails, the Smashing Sunshine features a base of Chambord Liqueur (black raspberry) for a unique, berry-forward sip. Jillian Dara, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 With each sip of the iced drink, the tangy triple sec brings a burst of flavor cut with the warmth of tequila, the tartness of lime, and the sweet brininess of the sugar salt rim. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 This hard spout cup comes with flow control valves that will ensure the right amount of liquid comes out each time your child takes a sip. Lauren Wellbank, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 Omar took another sip of water, then held it out to the rest of us. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Cardi continued her video by poured her lemon mixture into the open egg and took a sip of the broth, before immediately gagging. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 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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