ripple

1 of 2

verb

rip·​ple ˈri-pəl How to pronounce ripple (audio)
rippled; rippling ˈri-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce ripple (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become lightly ruffled or covered with small waves
b
: to flow in small waves
c
: to fall in soft undulating folds
the scarf rippled to the floor
2
: to flow with a light rise and fall of sound or inflection
laughter rippled over the audience
3
: to move with an undulating motion or so as to cause ripples
the canoe rippled through the water
4
: to have or produce a ripple effect : spread
the news rippled outwards

transitive verb

1
: to stir up small waves on
2
: to impart a wavy motion or appearance to
rippling his arm muscles
3
: to utter or play with a slight rise and fall of sound
rippler noun

ripple

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a shallow stretch of rough water in a stream
b(1)
: the ruffling of the surface of water
(2)
: a small wave
2
b
: a sound like that of rippling water
a ripple of laughter
c
: a usually slight noticeable effect or reaction
ripply adjective

Examples of ripple in a Sentence

Verb Water rippled under the dock. We could see the lion's muscles ripple. A cool breeze rippled the water. Noun The pebble made ripples in the pond when I threw it in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Continue to push the eggs in a circular motion for 5 to 10 seconds, just until the center is slightly wet looking and the egg looks rippled. Emily Weinstein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Their subsequent album, Heaven and Hell, released in 1980, would redefine not only their sound but would ripple throughout heavy metal bands for the decade that followed. Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 Related Articles The consequences of that guidance have rippled through Santa Clara County school districts, where children have recanted their abuse allegations in front of their parents, according to Milpitas Unified school social worker Nicole Steward. Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 This enthusiasm has rippled out to the fashion industry. USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 From the moment Salma was shot to the ongoing crushing strain of waiting for surgery, her life has become another harrowing illustration of how violence ripples through a life in wartime Gaza. Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 High interest rates continue to ripple through the economy, and developments overseas — from conflict in the Middle East to economic weakness in China — could have domestic consequences. Ben Casselman, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2024 Actions against one player can ripple through the sector, impacting investor confidence and regulatory attitudes. Nandan Sheth, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 So if weather disasters cause college students to carry more debt burden, that can ripple through other parts of their lives for years. Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
But there is a ripple of ambiguity on this point that foreshadows future litigation. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 These stone fruit flavors unite with ripples of light and fruity freshness, resulting in a decadently delicious, pleasurable expression. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In a further, striking coincidence—or more likely not a coincidence at all but something integral to a process of nightly information transfer perfected by evolution—both the ripples and the spindles rise and fall with the slow waves. Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 To create a tarmac road surface at model chicken scale the team use crushed walnuts mixed with glue and sand while a motorized device that looks like a toilet roll covered in tin foil has been jerry-rigged to create ripples on water. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 16 Dec. 2023 Sora may not be generally available right now, but just the knowledge of its existence is already spreading a ripple of uneasiness through society. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024 While not made for high surf, the vehicle ensures riders avoid all the ripples of 1- to 2-foot waves. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 Conclusion In my opinion, the semiconductor industry is undergoing a tectonic shift, and the ripples of this transformation will be felt far and wide. Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Family Man’s powerful bass ripples through the song with the force of a seismic tremor. Patricia Meschino, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ripple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps frequentative of rip entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1671, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ripple was circa 1671

Dictionary Entries Near ripple

Cite this Entry

“Ripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripple. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ripple

1 of 2 verb
rip·​ple ˈrip-əl How to pronounce ripple (audio)
rippled; rippling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce ripple (audio)
1
a
: to become or cause to become covered with small waves
b
: to flow in small waves
2
: to make a sound like that of water flowing in small waves
laughter rippled through the crowd
3
: to move with a wavy motion

ripple

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the disturbing of the surface of water
b
: a small wave or a mark like a small wave
2
: a sound like that of rippling water

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