dip
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to put something into a liquid for a very short time and then take it out.
v.to immerse something briefly in a liquid and subsequently remove it. Transitive, taking a direct object.
Simple“She dipped her biscuit into the tea before taking a bite.”
In context“The artist dipped the brush into the solvent to thin the oil paint before applying the final glaze to the canvas.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to go down to a lower level or amount for a short time.
v.to experience a temporary or slight decline in value, quantity, or intensity.
Simple“Temperatures usually dip during the night and rise again after sunrise.”
In context“The company's stock price dipped following the news, though analysts expect a full recovery by the end of the fiscal quarter.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to change your car's headlights from high to low so you do not blind other drivers.
v.to switch vehicle headlights from a high beam to a lower beam to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
Simple“You should dip your lights when you see another car coming toward you.”
In context“As the winding country road straightened, he was careful to dip his headlights the moment he spotted the glow of an approaching vehicle.”
Synonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
n.a thick, cold sauce that you put pieces of food into before eating them.
n.a creamy or savory liquid or semi-solid accompaniment into which food is immersed before consumption.
Simple“We served some carrots and celery with a spicy cheese dip.”
In context“The host prepared a variety of homemade dips, including a classic hummus and a roasted red pepper coulis, to accompany the vegetable platter.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a short, quick swim to refresh yourself.
n.a brief period of swimming, typically for recreation or refreshment rather than exercise.
Simple“After a long day at the beach, we went for a quick dip in the ocean.”
In context“Despite the chilly morning air, several locals took a daily dip in the lake to invigorate themselves before starting work.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
n.a place where a surface, like a road or a field, goes down and then up again.
n.a hollow or depression in a surface, particularly in a landscape or roadway.
Simple“The car bounced slightly as it went through a dip in the road.”
In context“The hikers found a small campsite nestled in a dip between two hills, which provided excellent protection from the wind.”
Synonyms - 07 C1 Advanced
n.a person who behaves in a silly or stupid way.
n.a person perceived as foolish or lacking in intelligence. Informal and mildly derogatory.
Simple“I felt like such a dip when I realized I had my shirt on backward.”
In context“He was acting like a total dip, making jokes that nobody found funny during the serious board meeting.”
- 08 C1 Advanced
n.a time when the price of something falls, making it a good time to buy.
n.a temporary decline in the price of a financial asset, often viewed by investors as a buying opportunity.
Simple“Many investors decided to buy the dip when the tech stocks fell last week.”
In context“The trader advised his clients to wait for a significant dip in the market before increasing their exposure to emerging currencies.”
Synonymscorrectionpullback
“The data covered six years (2017–22), including the market dip and rebound associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Around 50 million years ago, the first cetaceans—the ancestors of today’s whales, which initially walked on land—started to dip their toes into the water .”