What does "slipping" mean?

1. (declining in quality) getting worse or falling below a usual standard. 2. (moving quietly or quickly) moving somewhere quickly or secretly so people do not notice you. 3. (the act of sliding) the physical movement of sliding or losing grip.

slipping

v. · n.

US //ˈsɫɪpɪŋ// UK //slˈɪpɪŋ// slip·ping

1 declining in quality (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

getting worse or falling below a usual standard.

undergoing a gradual reduction in quality, efficiency, or intensity.

Example

The teacher noticed that the student's grades were slipping during the final term.

Example

Management expressed concern that the factory's safety standards were slipping, leading to an increase in minor workplace accidents.
- improving
2 moving quietly or quickly (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

moving somewhere quickly or secretly so people do not notice you.

moving with a smooth, quiet, or stealthy motion to avoid detection or delay.

Example

She tried slipping out of the back door before the party ended.

Example

The spy succeeded in slipping through the security checkpoint by blending in with a group of arriving tourists.

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3 the act of sliding (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the physical movement of sliding or losing grip.

the action or instance of losing one's footing or the sudden movement of an object out of its proper position.

Example

The constant slipping of the rug on the wooden floor became very annoying.

Example

The engineer explained that the mechanical failure was caused by the repeated slipping of the drive belt under high tension.
- skid
- slide