dripped; dripping
1
: to let fall in drops
a brush dripping paint
2
: to let out or seem to spill copiously
her voice dripping sarcasm
trees dripping Spanish moss
1
a
: to let fall drops of moisture or liquid
wet clothes dripping onto the floor
b
: to overflow with or as if with moisture
stories dripping with pop-culture references
toast dripping with butter
2
: to fall in or as if in drops
let the excess drip off
3
: to waft or pass gently
dripper
noun
plural drips
1
: a part of a cornice or other member that projects to throw off rainwater
also
: an overlapping metal strip or an underneath groove for the same purpose
2
a
: a falling in drops
a constant drip of water from the leaky faucet
b
: liquid that falls, overflows, or is extruded in drops
a pan to catch drips
3
: the sound made by or as if by falling drops
heard a drip
He said to the housing man … 'The floor goes creak, the tap goes drip drip …'—
Chris Smith
Chris Smith4
: a device for the administration of a fluid at a slow rate especially into a vein
A drip needle is often inserted at the beginning of a stay in the ward and, as one might expect, the attachment to a drip has salient implications for the way in which the hospital stay is experienced.—Rosemary Blake
Rosemary Blake
also
: a material so administered
The practice of using IVs as a means of rehydration for athletes isn't new. Healthy elites have reportedly gotten saline-only drips for recovery for at least 20 years. —Megan Hetzel et al.
Megan Hetzel et al. 5
: a dull or unattractive person
… [Charles Dickens' character] David Copperfield, in manhood, is not an especially interesting person. ("He's such a drip," commented a friend of mine.)—James Parker
James Parker6
African American English
: a fashionable style or look
Now I just need to get her an oversized graphic tee and some slick joggers to complete her drip.—Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di BenedettoDrip check. Show me what looks you're serving …—@AscendantNomad, on X, formerly Twitter
@AscendantNomad, on X, formerly Twitter
also
: something (such as fashionable clothing or jewelry) that is part of one's drip
Racks of clothing line the walls as you enter the apartment, studio and workspace of local rapper Smoke Stkz, and not because his closet wouldn't fit the entirety of his drip. —Ryann Gordon
Ryann Gordon What was [Rihanna] thinking introducing the baby to the world, appearing casual in jeans … but actually wearing … Chanel (both the jacket and the costume-jewelry drip) … —Zoe Guy
Zoe Guy … humans are extending their shoe "drip" to horses who can now have trendy kicks for the first time, a company says. —Camille Fine
Camille Fine
: of, relating to, or being coffee made by letting boiling water drip slowly through finely ground coffee
drip coffee
a drip pot
dividend reinvestment plan
Synonyms
Examples of drip in a Sentence
Verb
Water dripped from a leak in the ceiling.
Blood dripped down his leg from the cut.
Hot wax dripped onto my fingers.
The pine trees dripped sap onto the cars.
The kids dripped water all over the house.
Noun
Drips of water fell from a leak in the ceiling.
We heard the drip of the rain.
the steady drip, drip, drip of the faucet
Water fell from the ceiling in a steady drip.
The doctor put the patient on a morphine drip to manage the pain.
Don't invite that drip to your party!
Recent Examples on the Web
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
The sandwich drips with a red gochujang glaze, which gets balanced with a little sweetness in crunch thanks to a sesame slaw.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
James Manso, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
The company had moved its milk, sugar and simple drip coffee behind the bar during the early days of COVID-19, but the switch back should give its baristas more time to craft the lattes, macchiatos and other less straight-forward drinks.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024
Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2021
Jamie Kim's first job at Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was drip coffee makers.
—Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for drip 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Maximus bellowed at the crowd, his voice dripping with irony.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
The sandwich drips with a red gochujang glaze, which gets balanced with a little sweetness in crunch thanks to a sesame slaw.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
Guests can customize their experience, adding IV drips and vitamin shots depending on their needs.
—James Manso, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
The company had moved its milk, sugar and simple drip coffee behind the bar during the early days of COVID-19, but the switch back should give its baristas more time to craft the lattes, macchiatos and other less straight-forward drinks.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The 70-watt machine is equipped with a BPA-free dome lid, integrated sensor that activates when pressure is applied, stainless steel and anti-corrosive reamer and strainer, and non-drip spout to deliver breakfast juice or cocktail ingredients directly to your glass in a few seconds flat.
—Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2021
Jamie Kim's first job at Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was drip coffee makers.
—Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for drip
Dictionary Entries Near drip
Cite this Entry
“Drip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drip. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drip
1 of 2 verb
dripped; dripping
1
: to fall or let fall in or as if in drops
2
: to let fall drops of liquid
a dripping faucet
dripper
noun
drip
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a falling in drops
b
: liquid that drips
2
: the sound made by drops
Medical Definition
drip
1 of 2 verb
dripped; dripping
: to let fall in drops
drip
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a falling in drops see postnasal drip
b
: liquid that falls, overflows, or is extruded in drops
2
: a device for the administration of a fluid at a slow rate especially into a vein
was hooked up to an intravenous drip
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