Dip meaning, definition, and synonyms

Dip is a flexible English word with several meanings. It can describe a quick downward movement, a brief immersion in liquid, a small downward slope, or a sudden drop in numbers. As a noun, it can also mean a brief swim, a depression, or a savory sauce for food.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /dɪp/

Easy pronunciation: DIP (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable; the stress is on the only syllable.

Verb sense: to move or go downward briefly or slightly.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Dip Meaning

to go down for a short time or by a small amount

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to move or go downward briefly or slightly

Example: The sun dipped below the horizon.

Synonyms for this meaning:

sink — Works well when something moves downward out of sight or below a level.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Dip

Meaning 2

to change headlights from bright to dim

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to switch a car's headlights from a higher to a lower beam

Example: Please dip your headlights for oncoming traffic.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dim — Fits this headlight sense, though it is less exact than dip.

Meaning 3

to put something into liquid for a moment

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to immerse briefly in a liquid, especially while eating or cleaning

Example: Dip the brush into the paint.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dunk — A close substitute in many everyday contexts.
plunge — Works when the emphasis is on pushing something down into liquid.
douse — Can fit when something is thoroughly wetted, but it is less specific than dip.
souse — Can work in some varieties of English, but it is less common.

Meaning 4

a quick drop in an amount or level

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a sudden sharp decrease in a quantity

Example: There was a dip in prices.

Synonyms for this meaning:

drop — A natural everyday synonym for a downward change.
fall — Works well for a decrease in level, amount, or value.
free fall — Works only when the decrease is very steep and dramatic.

Meaning 5

a pickpocket

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a thief who steals from pockets or purses in public places

Example: The police warned shoppers about a known dip in the crowd.

Synonyms for this meaning:

cutpurse — A traditional synonym for this sense.
pickpocket — Directly matches the meaning.

Meaning 6

to lower something a little for a moment

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to lower briefly, especially a part of the body

Example: She dipped her knee in a quick curtsey.

Meaning 7

to slope down

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to slope downward or go down slightly

Example: The road dips toward the river.

Meaning 8

to use a little of something, especially money or savings

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to take a small amount from something

Example: I had to dip into my savings.

Meaning 9

a quick swim

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a brief swim in water

Example: We took a dip in the lake.

Synonyms for this meaning:

plunge — Can work informally for a quick swim, but it is less direct than dip.

Meaning 10

a short time spent in liquid

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a brief immersion

Example: Give the cloth a quick dip in the dye.

Meaning 11

the angle of a magnetic needle below the horizon

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the horizon

Example: No natural example supplied.

Synonyms for this meaning:

angle of dip — Direct technical equivalent.
inclination — Technical but broader; not always specific to magnetism.
magnetic dip — Direct technical equivalent.
magnetic inclination — Direct technical equivalent.

Meaning 12

a small low place in a flat surface

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a depression in an otherwise level surface

Example: There was a dip in the road.

Meaning 13

a strength exercise on parallel bars

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a gymnastic exercise on parallel bars where the body is lowered and raised by the arms

Example: No natural example supplied.

Meaning 14

a candle made by dipping it in wax

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a candle made by repeated dipping in wax or tallow

Example: No natural example supplied.

Meaning 15

a sauce you dip food into

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a tasty sauce or mixture for dipping food

Example: Serve the chips with a spicy dip.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Dip Synonyms

Similar Meaning

sink

headlights: switch from high beam to low beam

immerse briefly in a liquid

dunk
plunge
douse
souse

sudden sharp decrease

drop
fall
free fall

thief who steals from pockets or purses

cutpurse
pickpocket

brief swim

plunge

magnetic angle

angle of dip
inclination
magnetic dip
magnetic inclination

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Do not confuse dip meaning 'immerse briefly' with dip meaning 'a small decrease' or 'a slope downward'.
Do not use pickpocket synonyms for the verb senses.
Dip can be a noun or a verb, so the correct synonym depends on the sense.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common meaning of dip?

The most common everyday meaning is to move down slightly or briefly, as in 'The sun dipped below the horizon.'

What are the best synonyms for dip?

For the main verb sense, sink is the closest match. Other senses use different synonyms, such as dunk, drop, fall, or pickpocket, depending on the meaning.

Is dip always about going downward?

No. It can also mean to immerse something in liquid, take a small amount from something, or refer to a quick swim or a sauce.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.