MEANING
To move in small successive waves or cause such waves on a surface.
Use it for
Small surface waves, moving grass, and delicate disturbances.Replace general motion with a repeating low-amplitude pattern.
Words that belong together
- water ripples
- breeze ripples the pond
- rippling grass
On the page
The pond rippled when the fish surfaced.
A breeze rippled the long grass.
Light rippled across the stream's sandy bed.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- ripple / ripples
- Past tense
- rippled
- Past participle
- rippled
- Present participle
- rippling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- ripple / ripples
- Present continuous
- am/is/are rippling
- Present perfect
- have/has rippled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been rippling
- Past
- rippled
- Past continuous
- was/were rippling
- Past perfect
- had rippled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been rippling
- Future
- will ripple / ripples
- Future continuous
- will be rippling
- Future perfect
- will have rippled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been rippling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: environment. Applies to water and, by extension, grass or fabric; smaller-scale than a surge. Also a noun for a small wave. Verb [base, third-person, past, past participle, -ing]: ripple, ripples, rippled, rippled, rippling.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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