English Reference

Word

slip

US/ˈsɫɪp/

UK/slˈɪp/

Definitions

01to slide by accident

A2

v. to slide suddenly and lose your balance, usually on a wet or smooth surface.

v. to lose traction on a surface, resulting in an involuntary sliding movement.

“Be careful not to slip on the icy pavement outside the shop.”

“The hiker slipped on the loose scree, narrowly avoiding a dangerous fall into the ravine below.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02to move quietly

B1

v. to move somewhere quickly and quietly so that people do not notice you.

v. to move or pass with a smooth, quiet, or secretive motion to avoid detection.

“She tried to slip out of the room before the meeting ended.”

“He managed to slip through the crowd unnoticed, disappearing into the narrow alleyways of the old city.”

Usage

Often used with prepositions like 'into', 'out of', or 'away'.

Synonyms

03to give secretly

B2

v. to give something to someone quickly and secretly.

v. to pass an object to another person in a discreet or covert manner.

“The witness slipped a note to the lawyer during the trial.”

“The informant slipped the microfilm into the agent's pocket while they stood together at the crowded bar.”

Usage

Takes a direct object and an indirect object.

Synonyms

04to decline or worsen

B2

v. to fall to a lower level or become worse.

v. to decline in quality, value, or standard; to move into a worse state.

“The company's profits began to slip after the new competitor arrived.”

“Standards of service at the hotel have slipped significantly since the change in management last year.”

Antonyms

05a small mistake

B1

n. a small mistake, especially one caused by not paying attention.

n. a minor or accidental error, often resulting from a temporary lapse in concentration.

“It was just a small slip, but it changed the meaning of the whole sentence.”

“The accountant's minor slip in the final calculations resulted in a discrepancy of several thousand pounds.”

Teaching tip

Often used in the phrase 'a slip of the tongue' for a speaking mistake.

06a piece of paper

B1

n. a small, thin piece of paper, often used for a specific purpose like a receipt.

n. a small strip or piece of paper, typically used for records, forms, or brief notes.

“Please write your phone number on this slip of paper.”

“The librarian handed him a yellow slip indicating that his requested book had finally arrived.”

Synonyms

07clothing

B2

n. a light piece of clothing worn under a dress or skirt.

n. a woman's undergarment intended to provide a smooth silhouette or prevent outer garments from clinging.

“She wore a silk slip under her lace dress to make it hang better.”

“The vintage boutique specialised in silk slips and lace camisoles from the mid-twentieth century.”

Synonyms

petticoatunderskirt

08a boat's space

C1 · Nautical

n. a place where a boat is kept in a harbour.

n. a docking space or berth for a vessel between two piers or in a boathouse.

“The yacht was safely moored in its slip before the storm arrived.”

“The marina manager assigned the visiting catamaran to a wider slip near the fuel dock.”

Technical

Synonyms

Real-World Examples

“That difference matters because earthquakes occur when connected blocks of rock build up stress and suddenly slip.”
ScienceDaily · 25 Sept 2026
“I write each memory down on a slip of paper before placing it into the jar.”
The Guardian · 23 Aug 2026

Word family

Idioms

give someone the slip — To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.

let slip — To divulge a secret, as by accident or mistake.

let something slip — To accidentally reveal a secret.

pink slip — A notice of termination of employment.

slip back to old ways — to return to past bad habits

slip into — To put on some clothes rapidly.

slip of the pen — A mistake in handwriting; (loosely) any minor error by the writer that made it into print, having not been caught by editors or proofreaders.

slip of the tongue — A mistake in speech.

slip out — To leave quietly and unnoticed.

slip someone's mind — To be forgotten by someone; to escape someone's memory.

Show all 13

slip the cable — To die.

slip through the cracks — To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.

two slips of latinum — Synonym of two cents (“one's opinion or thoughts”).

Domains

AviationBusinessCookingEngineeringMedicineMiningNauticalPrinting

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference