trip

1 of 2

verb

tripped; tripping

intransitive verb

1
: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
2
: to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
3
a
: to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps
b
: to walk with light quick steps
4
: to stumble in articulation when speaking
5
: to make a journey
6
a
: to actuate a mechanism
b
: to become operative
7
a
: to get high on a psychedelic drug (such as LSD) : turn on
often used with out
b
slang : freak sense 3b

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to stumble
often used with up
b
: to cause to fail : obstruct
often used with up
2
: to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder
also : expose
usually used with up
3
: to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent
trip the fire alarm
4
: to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5
a
: to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering
b
: to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6
archaic : to perform (a dance) lightly or nimbly

trip

2 of 2

noun

1
b
: a single round or tour on a business errand
2
a
: an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)
b
: an exciting or unusual experience
the party was a trip
3
: absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind
a guilt trip
on a nostalgia trip
4
: a faltering step caused by stumbling
5
: a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing
6
7
: a quick light step
8
a
: the action of tripping mechanically
b
: a device for tripping a mechanism (such as a catch or detent)
9
Phrases
trip the light fantastic
: dance

Examples of trip in a Sentence

Verb He deliberately tried to trip me. The dancers tripped off the stage. Noun They got back from their trip yesterday. a trip around the world He was on an acid trip. an ankle injury caused by a trip
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Even trips home from mundane places that don’t demand performance or the luxury will be enhanced by M power. Scotty Reiss, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 One survey of 2,561 DMT users found that more than half who identified as atheists before their DMT trips no longer identified as atheist afterward. Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Plot Armor Carol’s trip to France is equally preposterous. Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Meanwhile, the duo also shared pictures and videos from their Mexico trip, which included them having a glamorous dinner, cocktails and their bed being decorated with rose petals. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trip 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of trip was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trip

Cite this Entry

“Trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trip. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

trip

1 of 2 noun
1
: an act of causing another to stumble or fall
2
a
: a traveling from one place to another : journey
a trip to Europe
b
: a brief errand or journey with a purpose that often takes place on a regular basis
a trip to the dentist
3
4
a
: a quick light step
b
: a faltering step : stumble
5
a
: the action of releasing something mechanically
b
: a device (as a catch) for releasing a mechanism

trip

2 of 2 verb
tripped; tripping
1
: to move (as in dancing or walking) with light quick steps
2
a
: to catch one's foot against something so as to stumble
don't trip over the rock
b
: to cause to stumble
someone must have tripped him
3
a
: to make or cause to make a mistake
b
: to catch making a false statement, error, or blunder
questions designed to trip her up
4
: to release or start a device usually by moving a catch
tripped the fire alarm

More from Merriam-Webster on trip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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