What does supped mean?
Supped is the past tense of sup, a verb meaning to take a drink slowly, in small sips. Its literary sound distinguishes it from the more neutral “drank” and from “sipped,” which can suggest either a deliberate small sip or the manner of drinking. In current American English, “supped up” is the best-known expression; it means prepared, enthusiastic, or excited for an activity. The verb also has an older sense meaning to eat a meal, as in an account of guests supping together, although this use now sounds archaic or deliberately traditional. Overall, supped has a quaint, old-fashioned quality outside the fixed expression “supped up,” while remaining precise enough to evoke the slow act of taking a drink.
verbTo drink or sip a liquid slowly or in small amounts.
- To drink or sip a liquid slowly.
- To eat a meal; now chiefly archaic or literary.
"She supped her tea while reading the morning newspaper."
"He supped the remainder of his coffee from the cup."
"The guests supped quietly before the evening's proceedings began."
The word survives in the American expression “supped up,” meaning fully prepared or excited for something.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does supped come from?
The word comes from the Middle English and Old English verb supan, meaning “to sip” or “drink,” which was inherited from Proto-Germanic. Supped is the regular past tense and past participle of sup. The base word also contributed to English supper, although its development involved a separate suffix and later association with the Latin word super.
Related word forms
How supped is actually used
In modern English, the word is most often encountered in the informal American expression “supped up.” Outside that construction, it sounds literary, old-fashioned, or regional, especially in its older sense of taking a meal.
Easily confused with supped
Supped means to drink slowly, whereas sapped means to weaken or drain something.