dip

To put something briefly or partly into a liquid.

• Dip the bread in the soup.
• She dipped her fingers into the water.
• He was dipping strawberries in melted chocolate.

How to use it: dip something in/into something (Dip the brush into the paint.)

Similar words: immerse, dunk

Common phrases: dip into something, dip in something, dip bread

To make a vehicle’s front lights shine lower so they do not hurt other drivers’ eyes.

• Please dip your headlights.
• She dipped her lights as a car approached.
• Drivers should dip their headlights on this road.

Common phrases: dip headlights, dip your lights

To lower a flag briefly as a sign of respect or a greeting.

• The sailor dipped the flag.
• Ships sometimes dip their flags in greeting.
• The crew prepared to dip the ensign as the vessel passed.

Similar words: lower

Common phrases: dip a flag, dip the ensign

A thick sauce that you put pieces of food into before eating them.

• Try this cheese dip.
• She served raw vegetables with a spicy dip.
• We made three different dips for the party.

Similar words: dipping sauce

Common phrases: cheese dip, spicy dip, dip for something

A place where the ground or a road becomes lower than the area around it.

• Watch out for the dip ahead.
• Water collected in a dip in the field.
• The road has several sharp dips.

How to use it: dip in something (There is a dip in the path near the gate.)

Similar words: hollow, depression

Common phrases: dip in something, steep dip

A short swim, often to cool down or feel fresh.

• Let’s take a dip.
• A quick dip in the sea cooled us down.
• Did you enjoy your morning dip?

How to use it: dip in something (We went for a dip in the lake.)

Similar words: swim

Common phrases: take a dip, quick dip, dip in something

An investment whose price has fallen, which some people buy because they expect it to rise again.

• Some investors always buy the dip.
• She bought the dip, expecting prices to recover.
• Buying every dip can be risky.

Common phrases: buy the dip, buy every dip