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Synonyms

slip

1 American  
[slip] / slɪp /

verb (used without object)

slipped, slipt, slipped, slipping
  1. to move, flow, pass, or go smoothly or easily; glide; slide.

    Water slips off a smooth surface.

    Synonyms:
    slither
  2. to slide suddenly or involuntarily; to lose one's foothold, as on a smooth surface.

    She slipped on the icy ground.

    Synonyms:
    slither
  3. to move, slide, or start gradually from a place or position.

    His hat had slipped over his eyes.

  4. to slide out of or become disengaged from a fastening, the grasp, etc..

    The soap slipped from my hand.

  5. to pass without having been acted upon or used; be lost; get away.

    to let an opportunity slip.

  6. to pass from the mind, memory, or consciousness.

  7. to elapse or pass quickly or imperceptibly (often followed by away orby ).

    The years slipped by.

  8. to become involved or absorbed easily.

    to slip into a new way of life.

  9. to move or go quietly, cautiously, or unobtrusively.

    to slip out of a room.

  10. to put on or take off a garment easily or quickly: He slipped off his shoes.

    She slipped on the new sweater.

    He slipped off his shoes.

  11. to make a mistake or error.

    As far as I know, you haven't slipped once.

    Synonyms:
    blunder, err
  12. to fall below a standard or accustomed level, or to decrease in quantity or quality; decline; deteriorate.

    His work slipped last year.

  13. to be said or revealed inadvertently (usually followed byout ).

    The words just slipped out.

  14. to read, study, consider, etc., without attention.

    He slipped over the most important part.

  15. Aeronautics. (of an aircraft when excessively banked) to slide sideways, toward the center of the curve described in turning.


verb (used with object)

slipped, slipt, slipped, slipping
  1. to cause to move, pass, go, etc., with a smooth, easy, or sliding motion.

  2. to put, place, pass, insert, or withdraw quickly or stealthily.

    to slip a letter into a person's hand.

  3. to put on or take off (a garment) easily or quickly.

    He slipped the shirt over his head.

  4. to let or make (something) slide out of a fastening, the hold, etc..

    I slipped the lock, and the door creaked open.

  5. to release from a leash, harness, etc., as a hound or a hawk.

  6. to get away or free oneself from; escape (a pursuer, restraint, leash, etc.).

    The cow slipped its halter.

  7. to untie or undo (a knot).

  8. Nautical. to let go entirely, as an anchor cable or an anchor.

  9. to pass from or escape (one's memory, attention, knowledge, etc.).

  10. to dislocate; put out of joint or position.

    I slipped a disk in my back.

  11. to shed or cast.

    The rattlesnake slipped its skin.

  12. to ignore, pass over, or omit, as in speaking or writing.

  13. to let pass unheeded; neglect or miss.

  14. Boxing. to evade or avoid (a blow) by moving or turning the body quickly.

    He slipped a right and countered with a hard left.

  15. (of animals) to bring forth (offspring) prematurely.

  16. British. to detach (a railway car) from a moving train as it passes through a station.

noun

  1. an act or instance of slipping.

  2. a sudden losing of one's foothold, as on slippery ground.

  3. a mistake in judgment; blunder.

  4. a mistake or oversight, as in speaking or writing, especially a small one due to carelessness.

    a minor slip in addition; a slip of the tongue; a slip of the pen.

    Synonyms:
    fault, error
  5. an error in conduct; indiscretion.

  6. something easily slipped on or off.

  7. a decline or fall in quantity, quality, extent, etc., or from a standard or accustomed level.

    a slip in prices.

  8. Clothing.

    1. a woman's undergarment, sleeveless and usually having shoulder straps, extending from above the bust down to the hemline of the outer dress.

    2. an underskirt, as a half-slip or petticoat.

  9. a pillowcase.

  10. an inclined plane, sloping to the water, on which vessels are built or repaired.

  11. Nautical. the difference between the speed at which a screw propeller or paddle wheel would move if it were working against a solid and the actual speed at which it advances through the water.

  12. a space between two wharves or in a dock for vessels to lie in.

  13. Electricity. the difference between the synchronous and the operating speeds of a motor.

  14. Machinery.

    1. the difference between output speed and input or theoretical speed in certain fluid or electromagnetic devices, as couplings or motors.

    2. (in pumps) the difference between the actual volume of water or other liquid delivered by a pump during one complete stroke and the theoretical volume as determined by calculation of the displacement.

  15. unintended movement or play between mechanical parts or the like.

  16. Cricket.

    1. the position of a fielder who stands behind and to the offside of the wicketkeeper.

    2. the fielder playing this position.

  17. Geology.

    1. the relative displacement of formerly adjacent points on opposite sides of a fault, measured along the fault plane.

    2. a small fault.

  18. Also called glideMetallurgy. plastic deformation of one part of a metallic crystal relative to the other part due to shearing action.

verb phrase

  1. slip away

    1. to depart quietly or unobtrusively; steal off.

    2. to recede; slowly vanish.

      All those facts I had memorized just slipped away.

  2. slip up to make an error; fail.

    I slipped up and put the letter in the wrong envelope.

idioms

  1. slip a cog. cog.

  2. let slip, to reveal unintentionally.

    to let slip the truth.

  3. give someone the slip, to elude a pursuer; escape.

    The murderer gave the police the slip.

  4. slip something over on, to deceive; defraud; trick. Also slip one over on.

  5. slip someone's mind, to be forgotten.

    I was supposed to phone, but it slipped my mind.

  6. slip between the cracks. crack.

slip 2 American  
[slip] / slɪp /

noun

  1. a small paper form on which information is noted.

    a withdrawal slip.

  2. a piece suitable for propagation cut from a plant; scion or cutting.

  3. any long, narrow piece or strip, as of wood, paper, or land.

  4. a young person, especially one of slender form.

    a mere slip of a girl.

  5. a long seat or narrow pew in a church.

  6. Bookbinding. one of the ends of a band, extending at the sides of a book after sewing.


verb (used with object)

slipped, slipping
  1. to take slips or cuttings from (a plant).

  2. to take (a part), as a slip from a plant.

slip 3 American  
[slip] / slɪp /

noun

  1. Ceramics. a clay solution of creamy consistency for coating or decorating biscuit.

  2. a glass-bearing liquid fired onto steel as a cladding, as in making enamelware.


slip 4 American  
[slip] / slɪp /

noun

Architecture.
  1. a variant of slype.


slip 1 British  
/ slɪp /

verb

  1. to move or cause to move smoothly and easily

  2. (tr) to place, insert, or convey quickly or stealthily

  3. (tr) to put on or take off easily or quickly

    to slip on a sweater

  4. (intr) to lose balance and slide unexpectedly

    he slipped on the ice

  5. to let loose or be let loose

  6. to be released from (something); escape

  7. (tr) to let go (mooring or anchor lines) over the side

  8. to pass out of (the mind or memory)

  9. (tr) to overlook, neglect, or miss

    to slip an opportunity

  10. (intr) to move or pass swiftly or unperceived

    to slip quietly out of the room

  11. to make a mistake

  12. Also: sideslip.  to cause (an aircraft) to slide sideways or (of an aircraft) to slide sideways

  13. (intr) to decline in health, mental ability, etc

  14. (intr) (of an intervertebral disc) to become displaced from the normal position

  15. (tr) to dislocate (a bone)

  16. (of animals) to give birth to (offspring) prematurely

  17. (tr) to pass (a stitch) from one needle to another without knitting it

    1. (tr) to operate (the clutch of a motor vehicle) so that it partially disengages

    2. (intr) (of the clutch of a motor vehicle) to fail to engage, esp as a result of wear

    1. to allow to escape

    2. to say unintentionally

  18. slang to hoodwink or trick

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of slipping

  2. a mistake or oversight

    a slip of the pen

  3. a moral lapse or failing

  4. a woman's sleeveless undergarment, worn as a lining for and to give support to a dress

  5. a narrow space between two piers in which vessels may dock

  6. See slipway

  7. a kind of dog lead that allows for the quick release of the dog

  8. a small block of hard steel of known thickness used for measurement, usually forming one of a set

  9. the ratio between output speed and input speed of a transmission device when subtracted from unity, esp of a drive belt or clutch that is not transmitting full power

  10. cricket

    1. the position of the fielder who stands a little way behind and to the offside of the wicketkeeper

    2. the fielder himself

  11. the relative movement of rocks along a fault plane

  12. a landslide, esp one blocking a road or railway line

  13. metallurgy crystallog the deformation of a metallic crystal caused when one part glides over another part along a plane

  14. the deviation of a propeller from its helical path through a fluid, expressed as the difference between its actual forward motion and its theoretical forward motion in one revolution

  15. another name for sideslip

  16. to elude or escape from someone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
slip 2 British  
/ slɪp /

noun

  1. a narrow piece; strip

  2. a small piece of paper

    a receipt slip

  3. a part of a plant that, when detached from the parent, will grow into a new plant; cutting; scion

  4. a young slender person

    a slip of a child

  5. dialect a young pig

  6. printing

    1. a long galley

    2. a less common name for a galley proof

  7. a pew or similar long narrow seat

  8. a small piece of abrasive material of tapering section used in honing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to detach (portions of stem, etc) from (a plant) for propagation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
slip 3 British  
/ slɪp /

noun

  1. clay mixed with water to a creamy consistency, used for decorating or patching a ceramic piece

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

slip More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing slip


Synonym Usage

See slide. See mistake.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of slip1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb slippen, from Middle Dutch slippen; cognate with Old High German slipfen; late Middle English noun slippe, derivative of or akin to the verb; compare Old High German slipf “a sliding, slipping, error”; akin to slipper 2

Origin of slip2

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English slip(pe) “edge of a garment,” from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German slippe “flap (of a piece of clothing)”

Origin of slip3

First recorded before 1000; Middle English slyppe, Old English slype “semiliquid mass”; cf. slop 1, cowslip, oxlip

Explanation

When you slip, you slide or skid unintentionally. A slip is also a kind of underwear you wear under a skirt. A Freudian slip, on the other hand, is a slip of the tongue. You can slip on a damp or icy surface, and you can also slip by making a mistake or getting worse, as in "If the company doesn't sell more candy, their profits will slip." It also means "move in a sneaky or quiet way," so you might slip out of a birthday party before cake is served. As a noun, a slip can be a mistake, a fall, a piece of something (especially paper), or a skirt-like type of underwear.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing slip

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

That three missiles were able to slip through U.S. air defenses points to the challenges in protecting troops against Iranian missile and drone attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

As one of the counties working with a smaller budget, it can be easy for Northamptonshire to slip under the radar.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2026

While checks might feel familiar or secure, you’re ultimately handing over your account and routing numbers that are printed on the small slip of paper.

From MarketWatch Jul. 9, 2026

Every so often, a wildcard will slip through the cracks, but that’s become increasingly uncommon, especially in an era where fans are militant in their reluctance to let any unsavory portraits slide.

From Salon Jul. 8, 2026

But I feel strange for a second, a little like the moment right after you slip but you haven’t hit the ground yet.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

The global oil benchmark fell 1.8% to $98.92 a barrel, while WTI futures slipped 1.75% t $90.62 a barrel.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 24, 2026

I slipped out the back of the lot and through the alley.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 24, 2026

The S&P 500 slipped 10% during the first wave of U.S.-led strikes against Iran earlier in the year, but that was followed by a significant V-shaped rally, Fundstrat found.

From MarketWatch Jul. 24, 2026

Already, since mid-July, SpaceX's share price has slipped below its initial listing value.

From Barron's Jul. 23, 2026

A second later she had it and slipped inside.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

The concept centers on the idea of accidentally slipping out of normal reality and becoming trapped in this monotonous, labyrinthine environment with no clear exit.

From Science Daily Jul. 26, 2026

One of OpenAI's most advanced models broke out of a locked-down test and attacked another company's website -- reviving fears that AI systems are slipping beyond their creators' control.

From Barron's Jul. 24, 2026

But it also said the real number of those slipping through the system could be "significant".

From BBC Jul. 10, 2026

The Rhode Island family business that runs the club insists the wall was necessary to prevent the 14th hole from slipping into the sea.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 8, 2026

I can see Ms. Cherry flailing, trying to pull herself to standing, high heels slipping on a puddle of cranberry juice.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

Then she flew from the ball, and threw on Her Catskin cloak again; And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been.

From The Nursery Rhymes of England by Various

The dwellers in the farmstead furtively bade good-night, and slipt away.

From The Divine Adventure Volume IV by Macleod, Fiona

First row—make a stitch, knit one, make one, knit two, slip two as one, knit one, and draw the slipt ones over it; purl back.

From The New Guide to Knitting & Crochet by Cooper, Marie Jane

Khalaf, however, quietly slipt out of the tent, leaving his father and mother there, and went through the horde, asking charity of the passers-by.

From The Thousand and One Days A Companion to the 'Arabian Nights' by Pardoe, Julia

The wind slipt over the hill And down the valley.

From Song-Surf by Rice, Cale Young

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