# slipping

/ˈsɫɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /slˈɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. declining in quality

verb · CEFR B2

getting worse or falling below a usual standard.

For teachers: undergoing a gradual reduction in quality, efficiency, or intensity.

- The teacher noticed that the student's grades were slipping during the final term.
- Management expressed concern that the factory's safety standards were slipping, leading to an increase in minor workplace accidents.

### 3. moving quietly or quickly

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- She tried slipping out of the back door before the party ended.
- The spy succeeded in slipping through the security checkpoint by blending in with a group of arriving tourists.

### 4. the act of sliding

noun · CEFR B2

the physical movement of sliding or losing grip.

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

- The constant slipping of the rug on the wooden floor became very annoying.
- The engineer explained that the mechanical failure was caused by the repeated slipping of the drive belt under high tension.

## Examples

- The runner is slipping on the wet grass.
- The manager noticed that the restaurant's service standards were slipping because the staff were overworked.
- While the company remains profitable, analysts warn that its market share is slipping as more agile competitors introduce innovative products at lower price points.

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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.