# slipped

/ˈsɫɪpt/ (US) · /slˈɪpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slipped
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to slide accidentally

verb · CEFR A2

to slide by accident on a wet or smooth surface.

For teachers: to lose one's footing or balance by sliding on a smooth, wet, or unstable surface.

- He slipped on the icy pavement and nearly fell over.
- The hiker slipped on the loose gravel near the cliff edge, but fortunately, his companion caught his arm before he lost his balance entirely.

### 2. to move quietly

verb · CEFR B1

to move somewhere quietly or quickly so people do not notice you.

For teachers: to move stealthily, quietly, or quickly to avoid detection or to leave a situation without ceremony.

- She slipped out of the back door while the party was still loud.
- During the intermission, several guests slipped away from the theatre, having found the first act of the play entirely unconvincing.

### 3. to put something somewhere quickly

verb · CEFR B1

to put something into a small space or someone's hand quickly and quietly.

For teachers: to place or insert an object into a specific location with a smooth, quick, or surreptitious motion.

- He slipped a twenty-dollar note into his pocket.
- The informant slipped the encrypted drive into the agent's coat pocket as they passed each other in the crowded station.

### 4. to decline or worsen

verb · CEFR B2

to get worse or fall to a lower level.

For teachers: to decline in quality, value, or standard; often used for statistical or performance drops.

- The company's profits slipped slightly during the last three months.
- Although the athlete remained competitive, her world ranking slipped after she was forced to withdraw from two major tournaments due to injury.

### 5. to forget or be forgotten

verb · CEFR B2

to be forgotten by someone, especially a name or a date.

For teachers: to escape one's memory or attention; typically used with 'mind' or 'memory' as the subject or object.

- I meant to call you yesterday, but the date just slipped my mind.
- The specific details of the contract had slipped his memory, necessitating a thorough review of the original documents before the following morning.

## Examples

- He slipped on the wet floor and fell.
- The runner slipped on the muddy track, losing several seconds as he struggled to regain his footing.
- As the sun began to set, the thief slipped through the shadows of the alleyway, hoping to avoid the gaze of the patrolling guards.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.