noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American, Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfɪlɪp/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: Philip
homophone: Phillip
CMU ARPABET:F IH1 L AH0 P
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap; a flick.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A sharp strike or tap made using this action, or (by extension) by other means.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Something unimportant, a trifle; also, the brief time it takes to flick one's finger (see noun sense 1); a jiffy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something that excites or stimulates.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
Examples
This measure gave a fillip to the housing market.
The athlete’s victory provided a much-needed fillip for national pride.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To strike, project, or propel with a fillip (that is, a finger released quickly after being pressed against the thumb); to flick.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: flick, ping
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To project quickly; to snap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To strike or tap smartly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To drive as if by a fillip (noun sense 1); to excite, stimulate, whet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
Examples
The spicy aroma filliped my appetite.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inflame, animate, awaken, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate, excite, exhilarate, exsuscitate, fillip, fire, fire the blood, galvanize, gin up, ignite, intoxicate, kindle, quicken, rouse, send, set fire to, set on fire, sharpen, stir the blood, suscitate, thrill, vitalise, wake, warm the blood, whet, wind up, work up, yerk
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To make a fillip (noun sense 1) (with the fingers).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
anything that tends to arouse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his approval was an added fillip
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bonus
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: positive stimulus
History
Etymology
From Middle English filippen, philippe (“to flick or snap a finger from against the thumb”); further origin uncertain, but probably imitative. See flip. It is not clear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or vice versa.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
щракване с пръсти
(štrakvane s prǎsti)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Catalan:
garguirot
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Chinese Mandarin:
打響指 /打响指
(dǎ xiǎngzhǐ)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Dutch:
knip
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Dutch:
vingerknip
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Finnish:
napsutus
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
French:
chiquenaude
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
French:
pichenette
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
German:
Schnalzen
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Hungarian:
pattintás
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Hungarian:
pöccentés
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Hungarian:
pöckölés
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Italian:
schiocco
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Italian:
schioccare
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Italian:
schioccare le dita
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Italian:
scrocchio
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Japanese:
フィンガースナップ
(fingā sunappu)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Japanese:
指を弾く
(yubi o hajiku)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Japanese:
指パッチン
(yubi patchin)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Macedonian:
чворга
(čvorga)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Māori:
toropana
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Norwegian Bokmål:
knips
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Polish:
prztyczek
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Portuguese:
peteleco
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Portuguese:
piparote
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Romanian:
bobârnac
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Russian:
щелчо́к
(ščelčók)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Russian:
щёлк
(ščolk)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Serbo-Croatian:
puckanje prstima
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Slovak:
frčka
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Spanish:
papirote
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Swedish:
knäpp
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Swedish:
sprätt
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Telugu:
చిటిక
(ciṭika)
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Turkish:
parmak şıklatması
— action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap
Hungarian:
fricska
— smart strike or tap made using the fingers
Serbo-Croatian:
podstrek
— something that excites or stimulates
Italian:
schioccare
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Māori:
māpere
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Māori:
turapana
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Norwegian Bokmål:
knipse
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Russian:
щёлкнуть
(ščólknutʹ)
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Russian:
щёлкать
(ščólkatʹ)
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Serbo-Croatian:
kvrcnuti
— to strike or project with a fillip — see also flick
Serbo-Croatian:
pucnuti prstima
— to make a fillip (with the fingers)
Serbo-Croatian:
kvrcnuti prstima
— to make a fillip (with the fingers)
