What does tripped mean?
Tripped is the past tense and past participle of the verb trip, with the pronunciation /trɪpt/. In its most literal sense, it describes someone who stumbled or lost their footing, as in “She tripped over the rug.” By extension, it can mean that someone made an error or was caught out, such as when a person is tripped up by a complicated question. In informal English, tripped can also describe an altered state of mind caused by excitement, exhaustion, intoxication, or hallucination; “tripped out” is especially common in casual speech. The word is consequently versatile: it can describe a physical accident, a conceptual mistake, or a highly unusual mental or emotional state. Tripped can also function adjectivally in informal constructions such as “totally tripped.” Its range of meanings makes it useful for expressing everything from a minor stumble to a complete loss of composure, although the slang senses should be used mainly in informal contexts.
To stumble or lose one's footing; figuratively, to make an error or be caught out; informally, to experience an altered state of mind.
"The cyclist tripped on a rut and fell."
The literal and figurative senses are standard; the altered-state sense is informal.
Having stumbled or made an error; informally, in an altered state of mind.
"After the concert, they were still tripped out on the music."
The predicative use meaning mentally altered is informal and is especially common in the phrase “tripped out.”
One word can describe both a physical stumble and a mind that has become completely altered.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tripped come from?
Tripped is the regular past-tense and past-participle form of trip, so it follows the ordinary historical development of English verbs rather than having an independent origin. The verb trip has Middle English origins, although the precise details of its earliest development are uncertain. Its modern literal sense developed from stumbling or losing one's footing, while figurative meanings such as making an error and being caught out followed through extended and idiomatic use. The informal sense of being in an altered state of mind is a later development whose exact origin is difficult to establish.
Related word forms
How tripped is actually used
The literal sense is neutral and common in formal and informal English. The figurative sense of making a mistake is also standard. “Tripped” or “tripped out” meaning mentally overwhelmed or in an altered state is informal and informal slang, and may be unsuitable for formal writing.