Drip vs. Dip — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 21, 2024
"Drip" refers to liquid falling in small drops, while "dip" means to immerse something briefly in a liquid or to decline slightly.
Difference Between Drip and Dip
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Drip describes the action or sound of liquid falling in small drops. It can refer to both the physical action of dripping water from a faucet or the slow fall of any liquid. Dip, on the other hand, involves immersing something briefly into a liquid. It can also mean a slight decline or decrease in level, quality, or amount.
In medical contexts, drip can also refer to an intravenous therapy where fluids are administered drop by drop directly into a vein. Dip might be used informally to describe a small portion of a spread or sauce in culinary contexts.
When comparing the two, drip emphasizes a slow, steady release or fall of liquid, whereas dip focuses on a brief immersion or a slight downward movement.
Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Liquid falling in small drops
Brief immersion in liquid
Contextual Use
Leaky faucet, rain, IV therapy
Dipping food, slight decrease
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Sound Association
Often associated with the sound of water
Not typically associated with sound
Metaphorical Use
Slow, steady release
Slight decline or decrease
Example
A drip from the ceiling
Dip the brush in paint
Compare with Definitions
Drip
Liquid falling in small drops.
Water continued to drip from the leaky faucet.
Dip
Briefly immerse something in liquid.
She likes to dip her fries in ketchup.
Drip
The sound made by falling drops.
The constant drip of rain was soothing.
Dip
To lower or sink slightly.
The road dips down near the lake.
Drip
A leak or small flow of liquid.
There was a drip coming from the roof.
Dip
To plunge briefly into a liquid, as in order to wet, coat, or saturate.
Drip
To fall in drops
Water is dripping from that leaky faucet.
Dip
To color or dye by immersing
Dip Easter eggs.
Drip
To shed drops
An umbrella that is dripping all over the floor.
Dip
To immerse (a sheep or other animal) in a disinfectant solution.
Drip
To ooze or be saturated with or as if with liquid
A speech that dripped with sarcasm.
Dip
To form (a candle) by repeatedly immersing a wick in melted wax or tallow.
Drip
To let fall in or as if in drops
A brush dripping paint.
A speech that dripped invective.
Dip
To galvanize or plate (metal) by immersion.
Drip
The process of forming and falling in drops.
Dip
To scoop up by plunging the hand or a receptacle below the surface, as of a liquid; ladle
Dip water out of a bucket.
Drip
Liquid or moisture that falls in drops.
Dip
To lower and raise (a flag) in salute.
Drip
A slight intermittent flow or leak
Fixed the drip in the faucet.
Dip
To lower or drop (something) suddenly
Dipped my head to avoid the branch.
Drip
See drip feed.
Dip
(Slang) To pick the pockets of.
Drip
The sound made by liquid falling in drops
Listened to the steady drip of the rain.
Dip
To plunge into water or other liquid and come out quickly.
Drip
A projection on a cornice or sill from which rainwater can drip, protecting the wall below.
Dip
To plunge the hand or a receptacle into liquid or a container, especially so as to take something up or out
I dipped into my pocket for some coins.
Drip
(Slang) A tiresome or annoying person.
Dip
To withdraw a small amount from a fund
We dipped into our savings.
Drip
(intransitive) To fall one drop at a time.
Listening to the tap next door drip all night drove me mad!
Dip
To drop down or sink out of sight suddenly
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Drip
(intransitive) To leak slowly.
Does the sink drip, or have I just spilt water over the floor?
Dip
To drop suddenly before climbing. Used of an aircraft.
Drip
(transitive) To let fall in drops.
After putting oil on the side of the salad, the chef should drip a little vinegar in the oil.
My broken pen dripped ink onto the table.
Dip
To slope downward; decline
The road dipped.
Drip
To have a superabundance of valuable things.
The Old Hall simply drips with masterpieces of the Flemish painters.
The duchess was dripping with jewels.
Dip
To decline slightly and usually temporarily
Sales dipped after Christmas.
Drip
To rain lightly.
The weather isn't so bad. I mean, it's dripping, but you're not going to get so wet.
Dip
(Geology) To lie at an angle to the horizontal plane, as a rock stratum or vein.
Drip
(intransitive) To be wet, to be soaked.
Dip
To read here and there at random; browse
Dipping into Chaucer.
Drip
To whine or complain consistently; to grumble.
Dip
To investigate a subject superficially; dabble
Dipped into psychology.
Drip
A drop of a liquid.
I put a drip of vanilla extract in my hot cocoa.
Dip
(Slang) To steal by picking pockets.
Drip
A falling or letting fall in drops; act of dripping.
Dip
To place a preparation of finely shredded tobacco in one's mouth.
Drip
(medicine) An apparatus that slowly releases a liquid, especially one that intravenously releases drugs into a patient's bloodstream.
He's not doing so well. The doctors have put him on a drip.
Dip
A brief plunge or immersion, especially a quick swim.
Drip
(colloquial) A limp, ineffectual, or uninteresting person.
He couldn't even summon up the courage to ask her name... what a drip!
Dip
A liquid into which something is dipped, as for dyeing or disinfecting.
Drip
(architecture) That part of a cornice, sill course, or other horizontal member, which projects beyond the rest, and has a section designed to throw off rainwater.
Dip
A savory creamy mixture into which crackers, raw vegetables, or other foods may be dipped.
Drip
Style; swagger; fashionable and/or expensive clothing.
His drip is looking fine, especially the Supreme t-shirt.
Dip
An amount taken up by dipping.
Drip
(finance) A dividend reinvestment program; a type of financial investing.
Dip
A container for dipping.
Drip
To fall in drops; as, water drips from the eaves.
Dip
A candle made by repeated dipping in tallow or wax.
Drip
To let fall drops of moisture or liquid; as, a wet garment drips.
The dark round of the dripping wheel.
Dip
A downward slope; a decline.
Drip
To let fall in drops.
Which from the thatch drips fast a shower of rain.
Dip
A sharp downward course; a drop
A dip in prices.
Drip
A falling or letting fall in drops; a dripping; that which drips, or falls in drops.
The light drip of the suspended oar.
Dip
(Geology) The downward inclination of a rock stratum or vein in reference to the plane of the horizon.
Drip
That part of a cornice, sill course, or other horizontal member, which projects beyond the rest, and is of such section as to throw off the rain water.
Dip
(Linguistics) A part of a phrase or sentence that is unstressed or less strongly stressed relative to surrounding words, as the words I and to in I have to go.
Drip
Flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid;
There's a drip through the roof
Dip
The unstressed portion of a metrical foot.
Drip
The sound of a liquid falling drop by drop;
The constant sound of dripping irritated him
Dip
Magnetic dip.
Drip
(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)
Dip
A hollow or depression.
Drip
Fall in drops;
Water is dripping from the faucet
Dip
(Sports) A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the body is lowered by bending the elbows until the chin reaches the level of the bars and then is raised by straightening the arms.
Drip
Let or cause to fall in drops;
Dribble oil into the mixture
Dip
(Slang) A pickpocket.
Drip
A slow, steady release of liquid.
The IV drip administered medicine to the patient.
Dip
(Slang) A foolish or stupid person.
Drip
In slang, refers to stylish or impressive attire.
He's got some serious drip with that new jacket.
Dip
A preparation of finely shredded tobacco, usually placed between the lower lip and gum. Also called snuff.
Dip
A lower section of a road or geological feature.
There is a dip in the road ahead.
Dip
Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
Dip
The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
Dip
A tank or trough where cattle or sheep are immersed in chemicals to kill parasites.
Dip
A dip stick.
Dip
A swim, usually a short swim to refresh.
I’m going for a dip before breakfast.
Dip
A pickpocket.
Dip
A sauce for dipping.
This onion dip is just scrumptious.
Dip
(geology) The angle from horizontal of a planar geologic surface, such as a fault line.
Dip
(archaic) A dipped candle.
Dip
(dance) A move in many different styles of partner dances, often performed at the end of a dance, in which the follower leans far to the side and is supported by the leader.
Dip
(bodybuilding) A gymnastic or bodybuilding exercise on parallel bars in which the performer, resting on his hands, lets his arms bend and his body sink until his chin is level with the bars, and then raises himself by straightening his arms.
Dip
(turpentine industry) The viscid exudation that is dipped out from incisions in the trees. Virgin dip is the runnings of the first year, yellow dip the runnings of subsequent years.
Dip
(aeronautics) A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
Dip
(uncountable) The moist form of snuff tobacco.
Dip
The act of missing out on seeing a sought after bird.
Dip
Fried bread.
Dip
A financial asset in decline, seen as an investment opportunity.
Buy the dips
Dip
(informal) A foolish person.
Dip
(informal) A diplomat.
Dip
(transitive) To lower into a liquid.
Dip your biscuit into your tea.
Dip
(intransitive) To immerse oneself; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
Dip
(intransitive) (of a value or rate) To decrease slightly.
Dip
(transitive) To lower a light's beam.
Dip your lights as you meet an oncoming car.
Dip
(transitive) To lower (a flag), particularly a national ensign, to a partially hoisted position in order to render or to return a salute. While lowered, the flag is said to be “at the dip.” A flag being carried on a staff may be dipped by leaning it forward at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.
The sailor rushed to the flag hoist to dip the flag in return.
Dip
(transitive) To treat cattle or sheep by immersion in chemical solution.
The farmer is going to dip the cattle today.
Dip
(transitive) To use a dip stick to check oil level in an engine.
Dip
To consume snuff by placing a pinch behind the lip or under the tongue so that the active chemical constituents of the snuff may be absorbed into the system for their narcotic effect.
Dip
(transitive) To immerse for baptism.
Dip
(transitive) To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
Dip
(intransitive) To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
Dip
(transitive) To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; often with out.
To dip water from a boiler; to dip out water
Dip
(intransitive) To perform the action of plunging a dipper, ladle. etc. into a liquid or soft substance and removing a part.
Dip
(transitive) To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
Dip
(transitive) To perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body.
Dip
(intransitive) To incline downward from the plane of the horizon.
Strata of rock dip.
Dip
To perform a dip dance move (often phrased with the leader as the subject noun and the follower as the subject noun being dipped)
Dip
To lower the body by bending the knees while keeping the body in an upright position, as in movement to the rhythm of music.
Dip
To leave.
He dipped out of the room so fast.
Dip
To miss out on seeing a sought after bird.
Dip
To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again.
The priest shall dip his finger in the blood.
[Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep.
While the prime swallow dips his wing.
Dip
To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion.
Dip
To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
A cold shuddering dewDips me all o'er.
Dip
To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons.
Dip
To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; - often with out; as, to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water.
Dip
To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
Live on the use and never dip thy lands.
Dip
To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out.
Dip
To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper, ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part.
Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot.
Dip
To pierce; to penetrate; - followed by in or into.
When I dipt into the future.
Dip
To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; - followed by in or into.
Dip
To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of rock dip.
Dip
To dip snuff.
Dip
The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
Dip
Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
Dip
A hollow or depression in a surface, especially in the ground.
Dip
A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon.
Dip
A dipped candle.
Dip
A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the performer, resting on his hands, lets his arms bend and his body sink until his chin is level with the bars, and then raises himself by straightening his arms.
Dip
In the turpentine industry, the viscid exudation, which is dipped out from incisions in the trees; as, virgin dip (the runnings of the first year), yellow dip (the runnings of subsequent years).
Dip
A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
Dip
A liquid, in which objects are soaked by dipping; e.g., a parasiticide or insecticide solution into which animals are dipped (see sheep-dip).
Dip
A sauce into which foods are dipped to enhance the flavor; e. g., an onion dip made from sour cream and dried onions, into which potato chips are dipped.
Dip
A pickpocket.
Dip
A depression in an otherwise level surface;
There was a dip in the road
Dip
(physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon
Dip
A thief who steals from the pockets or purses of others in public places
Dip
Tasty mixture or liquid into which bite-sized foods are dipped
Dip
A brief immersion
Dip
A sudden sharp decrease in some quantity;
A drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index
There was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery
A dip in prices
When that became known the price of their stock went into free fall
Dip
A candle that is made by repeated dipping in a pool of wax or tallow
Dip
A brief swim in water
Dip
A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the body is lowered and raised by bending and straightening the arms
Dip
Immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate;
Dip the garment into the cleaning solution
Dip the brush into the paint
Dip
Dip into a liquid while eating;
She dunked the piece of bread in the sauce
Dip
Go down momentarily;
Prices dipped
Dip
Stain an object by immersing it in a liquid
Dip
Switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam
Dip
Lower briefly;
She dipped her knee
Dip
Appear to move downward;
The sun dipped below the horizon
The setting sun sank below the tree line
Dip
Slope downwards;
Our property dips towards the river
Dip
Dip into a liquid;
He dipped into the pool
Dip
Of candles; by dipping the wick into hot, liquid wax
Dip
Immerse in a disinfectant solution;
Dip the sheep
Dip
Scoop up by plunging one's hand or a ladle below the surface;
Dip water out of a container
Dip
A slight decline or decrease.
There was a dip in temperatures last night.
Dip
A sauce or condiment for dipping.
He made a cheese dip for the party.
Dip
A short downward movement.
The roller coaster took a sudden dip.
Common Curiosities
Can drip be used as a noun and a verb?
Yes, drip can be used both as a noun (the sound or action) and a verb (to fall in drops).
What is an IV drip?
An IV drip is a medical method for delivering fluids directly into a vein drop by drop.
Does drip have a sound associated with it?
Yes, drip often refers to the sound of liquid falling in drops.
What does dip mean?
Dip means to briefly immerse something in a liquid or refers to a slight decline.
Can you give an example of dip in a metaphorical sense?
Yes, "There was a dip in the company's profits last quarter."
Can drip refer to a continuous flow?
Yes, drip can refer to a slow, continuous release of liquid.
What is a drip?
A drip refers to liquid falling in small drops, often from a leak or faucet.
Is dip only used for liquids?
No, dip can also refer to slight declines or decreases in various contexts.
Can drip be used in slang?
Yes, in slang, drip refers to stylish or impressive attire.
What does a temperature dip mean?
A temperature dip refers to a slight decrease in temperature.
Is dip used in cooking?
Yes, dip refers to a sauce or condiment in which food is dipped.
What causes a drip from a ceiling?
A drip from a ceiling is often caused by a leak, usually from a roof or plumbing issue.
What is a chip dip?
A chip dip is a sauce or spread into which chips are dipped for flavor.
How is dip used in physical activities?
In physical activities, a dip can refer to a short downward movement, like a dip in a swimming pool.
What does it mean to dip your toes into something?
It means to try something out briefly or cautiously.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
