Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tip-off

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.53 in modern English

Syllables: tip-off
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An obvious clue or indication.

noun

A report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority.

noun

Jump ball that starts a game.

Example Sentences

"The broken window and overturned plant pots were a tip-off that something was wrong."
"The police received a tip-off about a recent bank robbery."
"Haws also alleged that Hay was engaged in a conspiracy to disrupt the parade. "People called a week before and said he would be doing something." The alleged tip-off was anonymous."

Etymology

Deverbal from tip off.

Inflected Forms

tip-offs (plural) tipoff (alternative)

Phrases

tip off

Frequently Paired Words

tip off

Synonyms

tap-off

Questions

What does tip-off mean?: An obvious clue or indication.
Where does tip-off come from?: Deverbal from tip off.

How to pronounce tip-off

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tip-off”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tip-off”.
Repeat and practice — Say “tip-off” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.