What does hiccup mean?
A hiccup is a short, involuntary sound produced by a sudden movement of the diaphragm, usually followed by an intake of breath. The word also commonly describes a brief interruption or minor irregularity in a process, as in a hiccup in an audio connection, a manufacturing hiccup, or a hiccup in the system. In this figurative use, it suggests a problem that is noticeable but temporary and does not fundamentally damage the larger activity. The sound itself is usually harmless, although persistent hiccups can occasionally indicate a medical condition. Hiccup is both a noun and a verb: a person hiccups, and an event or process may hiccup when it is briefly disrupted. The expression is informal in tone but broadly used in journalism, technology, business, and everyday conversation.
A short, involuntary sound made by the diaphragm, usually followed by a sharp inhalation.
"She suddenly had a hiccup in the middle of her presentation."
A brief interruption, minor malfunction, or temporary irregularity in a process.
"After a short hiccup in production, the website came back online."
To make a short, involuntary sound with the diaphragm.
"The child began to hiccup after drinking the fizzy drink."
To be briefly interrupted or temporarily disrupted.
"The system hiccuped briefly before completing the update."
The plural is used for repeated involuntary sounds and, figuratively, for brief interruptions or minor problems.
"The speech was interrupted by a few nervous hiccups."
A hiccup is one of the few sounds the human body produces involuntarily—and it can interrupt anything from a speech to a software update.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hiccup come from?
The word entered English in the early modern period as an imitation of the sound associated with the diaphragm's sudden movement. Its spelling has varied over time, with forms such as hiccough and hickop appearing in earlier usage, while hiccup became the standard modern spelling. The word belongs to a family of imitative expressions in which the sound itself helped determine the form.
Related word forms
How hiccup is actually used
The expression is informal but widely accepted in both speech and formal writing when describing a temporary problem or disruption. The figurative sense is often softened by words such as brief, minor, or temporary.
Easily confused with hiccup
A hiccup is an involuntary physical sound or a brief interruption, whereas a hic is a call intended to command silence or attention.
A hiccup is a sound or interruption, while a hick is a person from the countryside and can also mean unsophisticated.