rippled; rippling
ˈri-p(ə-)liŋ 
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
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
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
a
b
: a sound like that of rippling water
a ripple of laughter
c
: a usually slight noticeable effect or reaction
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
Courtenay Brown, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Inflation-weary consumers are already starting to rein in their spending as uncertainty ripples through households.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025
There was a ripple of audience laugher during the buildup, when a member of the troupe wearing a top hat performed elaborate stretches as though limbering up for a marathon.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripple
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Verb
Government employees make up a small share of the overall workforce, but the effects of nixed contracts could ripple out to the private sector.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Inflation-weary consumers are already starting to rein in their spending as uncertainty ripples through households.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
What happened next was surprising: As the shockwave of each virtual supernova emanated outward, ripples created density variations in the surrounding gas, causing some of the gas to condense into clumps.
—Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025
There was a ripple of audience laugher during the buildup, when a member of the troupe wearing a top hat performed elaborate stretches as though limbering up for a marathon.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripple
Cite this Entry
“Ripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripple. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ripple
2 of 2 noun1
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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