trip

TRIP/tɹɪp/

Pluraltrips

Verbtrips, tripping, tripped

Often confused with journey and travel

23 meanings of trip

Practice

1
journeynouncountable
A journey to a place, often a short one, made for fun or for a particular reason.
Like packing a bag and heading somewhere new for a little while.
We took a trip to the beach last weekend.
My family is planning a trip to the zoo.
UsageGo on a trip to a place. Say a trip (not ~~incorrect: a travel~~).
Similarjourney, excursion, outing, jaunt, visit
Note
2
verbintransitive
To stumble or fall after catching your foot on something, or to make someone stumble or fall.
Like catching your toe on a step and stumbling forward.
Be careful not to trip on the toys.
She tripped over the garden hose and fell.
UsageSay trip over or trip on something: I tripped over a root.
Similarstumble
3
nouncountable
A stumble or fall caused by catching a foot on something, or an act that makes someone stumble or fall.
Like your foot catching on a rug and almost falling.
A small trip on the stairs left her shaken.
His trip over the cord sent papers flying.
Similarstumble

Less common meanings

4
drug experiencenouncolloquialcountable
A period of seeing or feeling strange things after taking a drug.
Like a vivid dream you have while you are wide awake.
The drug sent him on a long and frightening trip.
She said her first acid trip was colorful and strange.
UsageSay a bad trip for a scary one.
Similarhigh
Note
5
be highverbintransitive
To see or feel strange things after taking a drug.
Like dreaming while you are still awake.
They trip for hours after taking it.
He was tripping all night at the festival.
UsageSay trip on a drug: he was tripping on LSD.
Similarhallucinate
Note
6
set offverbtransitive
To set something off, like a switch, trap, or alarm.
Like flipping a switch that makes something start.
Don't trip the alarm by opening that door.
The thief accidentally tripped the sensor.
UsageOften used when you set something off by accident: trip an alarm, trip a wire.
Similartrigger, activate, spring
Note
7
verbintransitive
Of a switch or safety device, to go off or cut the power by itself, for example when there is an overload.
Like a switch that turns itself off to stop too much power.
The circuit will trip if you plug in too many heaters.
The breaker tripped when the wire shorted.
Note
8
verbslangintransitive
To act crazy or get far too upset about something small.
Like shouting about a small spill as if it were a flood.
Don't trip just because the bus is a few minutes late.
She was tripping all night about one tiny mistake.
UsageUsually tripping: stop tripping means calm down, you are overreacting.
Similaroverreact, flip
Note
9
thrillnouncountable
A time of being very caught up in, or enjoying, a particular feeling or activity.
Like the strong excitement of doing something you really enjoy.
Bossing people around was a real power trip for him.
Being in charge for one day put him on a real power trip.
UsageUsed in pairs like ego trip and power trip.
10
nouncountable
A safety switch that turns off a machine or the electricity by itself when something goes wrong.
Like a small safety part that switches a machine off when something goes wrong.
The trip stops the engine when it overheats.
A faulty trip let the machine run too long.
Similarcut-out, breaker
Note
11
skip alongverbdatedintransitive
To walk or move along with light, quick little steps.
Like a small bird hopping quickly along a branch.
The children trip across the meadow chasing butterflies.
Come, and trip it, as ye go, / On the light fantastic toe.
a. 1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”Here, trip means move with light, quick steps.
UsageUse it with a direction: she tripped down the lane.
Similarskip, dance, prance, bound, hop
Note
12
verbobsoletetransitive
To catch someone making a mistake and prove them guilty.
These her women can trip me if I err.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”Here, trip means catch me making a mistake.
Note
13
nounobsoleteScotlandUK
A herd or flock of sheep, goats, or similar animals.
Note
14
nounobsolete
A group or troop of men, like a large body of soldiers.
Note
15
verbdated
To travel from one place to another.
16
noundated
A mistake, especially an embarrassing one in how you behave or what you say.
17
verbarchaic
To make a mistake in behavior, or to do something morally wrong.
[T]ill his Tongue trips
1689, [John Locke], “Remedies of the Imperfection and Abuse of Words”
18
adjectiveslang
Describing a poker hand made of three cards of the same kind.
19
nounrare
A quick, light step or a lively skip of the feet.
His heart bounded as he sometimes could distinctly hear the trip of a light female step glide to or from the door.
1814, [Walter Scott], Waverley
20
verb
To lift a ship's anchor off the seabed so that it hangs free.
21
nounrare
One turn a sailing boat makes as it moves at an angle against the wind.
22
verb
To swing a sailing ship's yard (a crossbar holding a sail) upright so it can be lowered.
23
nounrare
A group of wigeons (a kind of wild duck) flying or gathered together.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of trip apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–12

From Middle English trippen, meaning to step lightly, skip, or dance. It may come from Old French or from a Dutch word meaning to skip or hop.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Trip comes from Middle English trippen, meaning to step lightly, skip, or dance. en.wiktionary.org
Old French is a possible source. en.wiktionary.org
A Dutch word meaning to skip or hop is an alternative possible source. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 13–14

English got this word from Old French trippe, through the Middle English form tryppe. It may have a connection with the word troop.