Meaning & use
slipped
Last updated
“slipped” is a form of “slip”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Past form of slip: lost footing or grip and slid by accident, for example on a wet or smooth surface.
Grammar: No object; often followed by on or off: she slipped on the ice.
Patterns
- slip on something
- slip off something
He slipped on the wet floor and landed on his back.
The glass slipped out of her hand and broke.
The coin slipped through a hole in his pocket.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past form of slip: moved quietly or quickly without being noticed, or put something somewhere smoothly.
Grammar: With a place: he slipped out of the room; with an object: she slipped the note into his bag.
Patterns
- slip out of something
- slip something into something
She slipped out of the meeting before anyone noticed.
He slipped a note into her coat pocket.
The cat slipped through the open door.
verbintransitive
Past form of slip: became lower or worse in level, quality or position.
Grammar: No object: sales slipped last month.
Patterns
- slip to something
The team slipped to fifth place after the loss.
His grades slipped during the busy semester.
Prices slipped slightly in early trading.
Word forms
| base form | slip |
|---|---|
| third person singular | slips |
| -ing form | slipping |
Common combinations
- slipped on the ice
- She slipped on the ice outside the station.
- slipped away
- He slipped away from the party early.
- slipped his mind
- I meant to call you, but it slipped my mind.
- slipped a disc
- He slipped a disc while lifting the box.
- slipped through the net
- One small error slipped through the net.
Synonyms and how they differ
- slid
- Slid focuses on smooth, continuous movement, and it need not be accidental, while slipped often suggests losing control.
- tripped
- Tripped means catching your foot on something, whereas slipped means losing grip on a surface.
- sneaked
- Sneaked always suggests secrecy, while slipped can describe quiet movement without intent to deceive.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: slipped or slipt?
slipped vs slipt
Slipt is a rare old spelling; modern English uses slipped.
Practice
Yesterday she ____ on a banana peel and fell.
Choose one answer.
Yesterday needs the past tense, which is slipped. Slip and slips are present forms, and slipping needs an auxiliary verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slipped”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.