Meaning & use
a ripple
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
a small wave on the surface of water, often made by something touching it.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a ripple, ripples, or the ripples.
Patterns
- a ripple on something
- a ripple in something
- ripples spread across something
A stone landed in the pond and made a ripple that spread to the bank.
There was hardly a ripple on the lake that morning.
She watched the ripples from the boat reach the shore.
nouncountablefigurative
a small movement or feeling that spreads gradually through a group or situation.
Grammar: Often used figuratively in the phrase a ripple of something, such as laughter or excitement.
Patterns
- a ripple of laughter
- a ripple of excitement
- send ripples through something
A ripple of laughter ran through the audience.
The announcement sent ripples of worry through the office.
There was a ripple of applause when she finished speaking.
Word forms
| plural | ripples |
|---|
Common combinations
- a ripple of laughter
- A ripple of laughter went around the room.
- ripples spread
- The ripples spread quickly across the still water.
- send ripples through
- The news sent ripples through the whole industry.
- without a ripple
- The boat moved without a ripple on the glassy sea.
- a ripple effect
- Closing the factory had a ripple effect on nearby shops.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wavelet
- More technical and usually about water; "ripple" is the everyday word and can also be figurative.
- wave
- A wave is bigger and stronger; a ripple is small and gentle.
- undulation
- Formal and rare; describes a wavelike shape rather than a small movement on water.
Word family
- ripple verb
- to move in small waves, or to spread gradually.
- rippled adjective
- having a surface with small waves or a wavelike pattern.
- rippling adjective
- moving gently in small waves.
- ripple effect noun
- a situation in which one event causes a series of other effects.
Commonly confused: a ripple or ripple?
a ripple vs ripple
As a verb, "ripple" means to move in small waves; don't confuse it with "ripple" the noun when you need a subject or object.
Practice
Which sentence uses "ripple" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Ripple" as a noun fits water surfaces, so option An is correct. Option B is wrong because a crowd's noise does not have a surface; you would say "a ripple of noise" only figuratively, which is not the same. Option C uses "ripple" as a verb with the wrong meaning. Option D treats a ripple as a heavy object, which makes no sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a ripple”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.