sipped water

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sipped water" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of drinking water in a casual or descriptive manner. Example: "After a long run, she paused to catch her breath and sipped water from her bottle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

They sipped water.

The New York Times

Some sipped water, others ate a banana.

The New York Times - Sports

Just like Marco Rubio, he sipped water early and frequently.

The Guardian - Opinion

The tiny dog, freed from the travel bag, sipped water from a tiny bowl.

The New York Times - Sports

He sucked on hard candy, ate a few lemon slices and sipped water.

The New York Times

In the trenches, the American soldiers fidgeted, sipped water, watched for more fire from the warehouse.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The dancers sat sipping water.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was clearly nervous, sipping water frequently.

The Economist

Mr. Timberlake followed, nonchalantly sipping water.

The New York Times

Should we sip water or gulp it?

The New York Times

His vest was draped around his neck, and he was sipping water from a bowl.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sipped water" to depict a deliberate and gentle action of drinking, implying a sense of calm or refreshment. It's particularly effective in descriptive writing to set a scene or convey a character's state of mind.

Common error

Avoid using "sipped water" repeatedly in scenes requiring dynamic action or urgency. Opt for stronger verbs like "gulped" or "drank quickly" to maintain the scene's intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sipped water" functions as a verb phrase, where "sipped" is the past tense of the verb 'to sip' and 'water' is the direct object. This phrase describes the action of taking small, measured drinks of water. Ludwig examples show its use in various narrative and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sipped water" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to describe the act of drinking water in small, deliberate amounts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, as seen in examples from news, sports, and general descriptive writing. The phrase carries a neutral register and suggests a sense of calm or refreshment. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "took a sip of water" or "drank water slowly", "sipped water" offers a concise and widely understood way to convey this action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took a sip of water

Focuses on the action of taking a small amount of water.

drank some water slowly

Emphasizes the slow consumption of water.

took small gulps of water

Describes the action of drinking water in small quantities.

quenched thirst with water

Highlights the purpose of drinking water.

hydrated with small sips

Emphasizes the hydration aspect of drinking water.

refreshed themselves with water

Implies a revitalizing effect from drinking water.

had a water refreshment

Indicates a refreshing break with water.

slowly imbibed water

Emphasizes the slow and deliberate drinking of water.

consumed water sparingly

Suggests a careful and limited intake of water.

partook of water

A more formal way of saying someone drank water.

FAQs

How can I use "sipped water" in a sentence?

You can use "sipped water" to describe someone drinking water slowly and deliberately, for example, "After the race, she "sipped water" to rehydrate".

What are some alternatives to "sipped water"?

Alternatives include "took a sip of water", "drank water slowly", or "quenched their thirst" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "sipped on water" instead of "sipped water"?

"Sipped water" is more concise and commonly used. "Sipped on water" isn't incorrect, but it's less frequent and can sound slightly awkward.

What's the difference between "sipped water" and "gulped water"?

"Sipped water" implies taking small, gentle drinks, while "gulped water" suggests drinking quickly and in large amounts, often due to thirst or urgency.