# tip

/ˈtɪp/ (US) · /tˈɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tip
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. extra money for service

noun · CEFR A2

a small amount of extra money you give to someone like a waiter or taxi driver to thank them for their service.

For teachers: a small sum of money given to a service worker as a gratuity in addition to the basic price.

- We left a generous tip for the waiter because the service was excellent.
- In many cultures, leaving a fifteen percent tip is considered the standard protocol for satisfactory table service in restaurants.

### 2. helpful advice

noun · CEFR A2

a small but useful piece of advice or information.

For teachers: a useful hint or piece of practical information, often shared by someone with experience.

- The teacher gave us some great tips on how to study for the exam.
- The professional golfer shared several technical tips regarding grip and stance that immediately improved my long game.

### 3. the pointed end

noun · CEFR B1

the thin or pointed end of something long.

For teachers: the pointed or rounded end or extremity of an object.

- The tip of my pencil broke just as I started the drawing.
- The climbers finally reached the icy tip of the mountain just as the sun began to set over the horizon.

### 4. a messy place

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a place that is very dirty or untidy.

For teachers: a colloquial term for a room or building in a state of extreme disorder or filth.

- Your bedroom is a total tip; please clean it up before your friends arrive.
- After the week-long festival, the park was a complete tip, requiring a massive volunteer effort to clear the discarded packaging.

### 5. rubbish dump

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a place where people take large items of rubbish to be thrown away.

For teachers: a designated area or facility for the disposal of refuse or waste materials.

- We need to take this old sofa to the tip on Saturday morning.
- The local council announced new regulations for disposing of hazardous household chemicals at the municipal tip.

### 6. to lean or fall over

verb · CEFR B1

to move into a sloping position or to fall over.

For teachers: to tilt, slant, or overturn from an upright position; can be used with or without a direct object.

- Be careful not to tip the chair back too far or you might fall.
- The boat began to tip dangerously to the left as the heavy cargo shifted during the storm.

### 7. to empty out

verb · CEFR B1

to pour something out of a container by leaning it.

For teachers: to cause the contents of a container to be discharged by tilting it.

- He tipped the water out of his boots after walking through the river.
- The gardener tipped the bag of mulch onto the flowerbed, spreading it evenly around the base of the roses.

### 8. to give a gratuity

verb · CEFR A2

to give someone a small amount of extra money for their work.

For teachers: to provide a gratuity to a service worker.

- In some countries, you are expected to tip the hairdresser.
- The tourists were unsure whether they should tip the tour guide at the end of the excursion.

## Examples

- Here's a useful tip for saving money.
- The travel blog offered a great tip: book your flights on a Tuesday for the best prices.
- Beyond standard tactical advice, the coach offered a psychological tip about maintaining focus under pressure, which proved decisive in the championship match.

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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.