English Reference
verb · noun

drip

v. · n.
US /ˈdɹɪp/ UK /dɹˈɪp/ drip UK spelling drip's, drip's, dripped

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.to fall in small drops of liquid, one by one.

    v.to fall in separate drops; can be used intransitively for the liquid itself or transitively for the object releasing the liquid.

    Simple

    Water started to drip from the ceiling after the heavy rain.

    In context

    The leaky faucet continued to drip throughout the night, creating a rhythmic sound that made it impossible for him to sleep.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to be so wet that water is falling off you.

    v.to be saturated or soaked to the point that liquid falls in drops; often used with 'with'.

    Simple

    He was dripping with sweat after running five miles in the heat.

    In context

    The players walked off the field dripping with mud and rainwater after the match was finally called off.

    soakdrench
    dry
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    n.a piece of equipment in a hospital that slowly puts medicine or water into a person's blood.

    n.an apparatus used for the slow, continuous intravenous administration of fluids, nutrients, or drugs.

    Simple

    The nurse came in to check the drip and change the medicine bag.

    In context

    The patient was kept on a saline drip for forty-eight hours to ensure they remained hydrated following the emergency surgery.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Slang

    n.a cool or expensive style of dressing.

    n.a person's sense of style, particularly regarding fashionable or expensive clothing and accessories.

    Simple

    He showed up to the party with some serious drip in his new designer suit.

    In context

    Social media influencers often post photos highlighting their latest drip to maintain their status among fashion-conscious followers.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced InformalBritish English

    n.a boring person who has no personality or strength.

    n.a derogatory term for a person perceived as weak, dull, or lacking in character.

    Simple

    I don't know why she likes him; he's such a drip.

    In context

    The protagonist of the novel was initially portrayed as a bit of a drip, though he eventually found his courage during the final act.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    n.a part of a building designed to let rainwater fall away from the walls.

    n.a projection or groove on a cornice or windowsill designed to prevent rainwater from running down the face of a wall.

    Simple

    The architect added a drip to the window ledge to protect the brickwork.

    In context

    Without a proper drip on the stone coping, moisture will eventually seep into the facade and cause significant structural damage.

B lood and sweat drip to the floor.

The Guardian· 18 Aug 2026

Google says more features will be added later, but why the slow drip?

Ars Technica· 19 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English drippen, druppen, from Old English drypan, from Proto-Germanic drupjaną (“to fall in drops, drip”), from Proto-Germanic drupô (“drop”). Akin to West Frisian drippe (“to drip”), Dutch druipen, druppelen (“to drip”), German Low German drüppen (“to drip”), German tropfen, tröpfeln (“to drip”), Norwegian Bokmål dryppe, Norwegian Nynorsk drypa (“to drip”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English drippe, from the verb (see above). Compare West Frisian drip (“drip”), Dutch drup (“drip”), Danish dryp (“drip”). (style, swagger): Compare the verb sense "to have a superabundance of valuable things".

Etymology 3

Acronym.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *drupô
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated