English Reference
Adjective

tepid

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈtɛpɪd/ UK /tˈɛpɪd/ tepid

adj.describing something that is only slightly warm or lukewarm. It can also describe a feeling or reaction that is not very strong or enthusiastic.

adj.moderately warm or lukewarm in temperature; by extension, lacking in intensity, enthusiasm, or conviction. Often used to describe public reactions, political responses, or physical sensations.


SIMPLE

The hotel room had only tepid water for the shower.

CONTEXTUAL

The audience gave a tepid response to the comedian's new material, suggesting they were not fully entertained.

COMPLEX

Despite the initial hype surrounding the product launch, the market's tepid reception indicated that consumers were not yet ready for such a radical shift in design.

Using a fan this way works particularly well if you combine it with other methods of keeping your body temperature down, adds Prof Tipton, such as keeping your hands cool and taking tepid showers.

BBC News· 8 Jul 2026

Tepid showers can help to cool your body temperature, saving both money and energy.

BBC News· 22 Jun 2026

Borrowed from Latin tepidus. Cognate with Sanskrit तप् (tap), Proto-Slavic *teplъ.

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated