tipsy

IPA/ˈtɪpsi/
KK[tˈɪpsi]IPA/ˈtɪpsi/

tipsy — adjective

  • tipsypositive
  • tipsiercomparative
  • tipsiestsuperlative

1. feeling the mild effects of having drunk some alcohol — your movements are a lit

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

feeling the mild effects of having drunk some alcohol — your movements are a little unsteady, you feel relaxed and cheerful, but you are not fully drunk.

Example

After two glasses of champagne, Lina felt pleasantly tipsy and started laughing at everything.

collocation: pleasantly tipsy

Carlos looked tipsy walking in, his tie undone and a silly grin on his face.

pattern: look + tipsy

Common collocations
  • pleasantly tipsy
  • a bit tipsy
  • slightly tipsy
  • feeling tipsy
  • get tipsy
  • look tipsy
Synonyms
  • merry

    British informal; suggests cheerful, upbeat drunkenness

  • buzzed

    North American slang; similar mild effect

  • squiffy

    British humorous; very light tipsiness

Antonyms
  • sober

    not affected by alcohol at all

  • drunk

    far stronger, implies significant intoxication

Grammar Patterns

feel/look/get + tipsy

Usage Note

Tipsy is milder than 'drunk' and carries a light, often amused tone. It is not used in medical or formal contexts. This sense is the far more common one.

Common Mistakes

I was very tipsy after one beer.
I felt a little tipsy after one beer.
tipsy implies a mild state; 'very tipsy' sounds unnatural because the word already means 'slightly drunk.'
The doctor diagnosed him as tipsy.
The doctor said he had been drinking.
tipsy is too informal for clinical writing.

2. (of a physical object) likely to lean, wobble, or fall over because it is not pr

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

(of a physical object) likely to lean, wobble, or fall over because it is not properly balanced or is placed on an uneven surface.

Example

Sarah stacked the plates too high, and the whole pile looked tipsy.

predicative use: looked tipsy

Tanaka tried to fix the tipsy bookshelf by sliding a folded napkin under one corner.

attributive use: tipsy bookshelf

Common collocations
  • tipsy pile
  • tipsy stack
  • look tipsy
  • a tipsy tower
Synonyms
  • wobbly

    more common and neutral; no connection to alcohol

  • unstable

    more formal; broader meaning

  • rickety

    suggests something old or poorly built

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

look/seem + tipsy

a + tipsy + noun

Usage Note

This sense is much rarer than sense 1 and feels metaphorical — the object is described as 'tipsy' because it sways like a person who has had a drink. Not used for people.

Etymology

First known use

1577

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1