WordGarden.iosip
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɪp/
US
- /ˈsɪp/
Meanings
Verb
to drink in small mouthfuls
Noun
a small mouthful of a drink
Beyond the definition
Imagine a warm summer day and a glass of iced tea. You don't gulp it down; you sip it—taking small, satisfying drinks to savor the flavor and cool off. To sip is to drink in this way, slowly and deliberately. It's about enjoying the experience as much as quenching your thirst.
You can sip anything from coffee to soup, and the word can also be used as a noun: "She took a sip of water." Think of a hummingbird delicately sipping nectar from a flower, or someone quietly sipping tea by a window. The word carries a sense of small, careful enjoyment rather than speed.
To sip means to drink something slowly, taking small mouthfuls at a time. It is often associated with enjoying a beverage, savoring its taste and aroma rather than simply consuming it quickly for hydration. For example: "She sat on the porch, sipping her lemonade," or "He carefully sipped the rich, dark coffee."
The act of sipping implies leisure and appreciation. It's about taking your time and lingering on the moment. You wouldn't sip water when you are desperately thirsty—you would gulp it down! Sips are for pleasure, not survival.
The word is also commonly used as a noun. You can take a sip of tea, offer someone a sip of your drink, or have just one sip to taste something. In everyday English, it often suggests a very small amount: "He took a sip and put the cup down."
The origin of the word comes from the Old English sippian, meaning "to drink in small draughts." It evokes a sense of gentle enjoyment and measured action. So next time you lift a cup, glass, or spoon and take in just a little, you are sipping rather than gulping.
Examples
- 1
Tea
She sat by the window and sipped her tea.
- 2
Directly from container
He sipped from the bottle and passed it to me.
- Patternsip from + container
drink a small amount directly from it
- 3
Small drink
I took a sip of water before answering.
- Patterntake a sip of + drink
drink a small amount of it
- 4
Polite request
Can I have a sip of your juice?
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Relaxed drinking
She spent the evening sipping wine on the balcony.
- 6
Nervous drinking
He was too nervous to do more than sip at his coffee.
- Patternsip at + drink
drink only a little, often slowly or without much interest
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sipnounverb
Forms
- sipping-ing formverbnoun
- sipspluralnounverb
- sippedpast tenseverbnoun