Meaning & use
quipped
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“quipped” is a form of “quip”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
Made a short, clever or funny remark, usually as a quick reply to something someone had just said.
Grammar: Often introduces or follows direct speech: she quipped, or he quipped that it was the easy part.
Patterns
- quipped that something
- something, he quipped
I never forget a face, he quipped, but in your case I'll make an exception.
When the rain started, Mia quipped that the picnic was now a swim.
The host quipped that the show had run so long it needed a sequel.
Word forms
| base form | quip |
|---|---|
| third person singular | quips |
| past participle | quipped |
| -ing form | quipping |
Common combinations
- quipped drily
- The mayor quipped drily that the budget was balanced on paper.
- he quipped
- At least the food is cheap, he quipped.
- quipped to reporters
- The coach quipped to reporters that his team had saved its best game for the worst day.
- quipped that
- She quipped that the traffic was the only thing moving fast.
- quipped back
- He quipped back before anyone could answer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- joked
- Joked is more general and can mean any attempt to be funny, while quipped suggests a single sharp witty line.
- remarked
- Remarked is neutral and says only that something was said, with no hint of humor.
- retorted
- Retorted means answered back sharply and may be angry, whereas quipped is lighter and wittier.
- wisecracked
- Wisecracked is more informal and often cheeky, so it can sound slightly less polished than quipped.
Word family
Commonly confused: quipped or quit?
quipped vs quit
Quit means to stop or leave, and is pronounced with a final t as well, so the two are easy to mistake in writing.
Practice
Which sentence uses quipped correctly?
Choose one answer.
Quipped introduces a short witty remark, often with that; the other options give it a wrong object, a silent meaning or a passive form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quipped”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.