hic·cup
ˈhi-(ˌ)kəp 
variants
or less commonly hiccough
1
: a spasmodic inhalation with closure of the glottis accompanied by a peculiar sound
2
: an attack of hiccuping
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
3
a
: a slight irregularity, error, or malfunction
a few hiccups in the computer system
b
: a usually minor and short-lived interruption or disruption, or change
a hiccup in the stock market
variants
or less commonly hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped; hiccuping also hiccupping
: to make a hiccup
also
: to be affected with hiccups
Synonyms
Examples of hiccup in a Sentence
Noun
Our computer problems were caused by a hiccup in the power supply.
The stock market has continued to rise, except for a slight hiccup earlier this month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zion Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Sep. 2023
The only hiccup arose during the Ravens’ preseason game on Aug. 12, a day that saw a high of 93 degrees.
—Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023
The time people on the back end would like to use on validating and beta testing new features and updates simply isn't there, so some hiccups are to be expected.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
That’s not to say Montgomery’s first hiccup as a Ranger was the lone flaw.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2023
The only hiccup is that both parties need to have a Venmo account in order to secure the funds.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 30 Aug. 2023
Still, for every hiccup, there are grateful parents.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Aug. 2023
Wagner was pleased to see the unexpected hiccup against Concordia Prep was corrected with Thursday’s fine all-around performance.
—Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Though there were some hiccups regarding the couch’s quality and other issues, the retailer was able to help remedy them.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2023
Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 10 Aug. 2023
If your baby starts hiccupping during feeding, wait until the hiccups are gone to continue feeding.5
Treatment
Typical hiccups that last for less than 48 hours are medically termed acute hiccups.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 6 Aug. 2023
The batteries were also crucial to keeping the power on when a nuclear plant hiccuped and went offline earlier in the week, said Doug Lewin, a Texas energy consultant.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 24 June 2023
The voice hiccupped, almost as if the man were struggling.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2023
There’s a good movie to be made about podcasts that traffic in unsolved mysteries where hosts rank cliffhangers and that hiccuping dramatic cadence over journalism.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
The model and television personality, 37, posted a sweet video of her 1-month-old daughter looking cozy on top of a gray blanket with a white bib, lightly hiccuping as she was being fed milk.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
Often when someone starts to hiccup, a debate begins among everyone nearby over which home remedy is the true cure.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
Would wake up in the night to use the bathroom and start to hiccup.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 13 Dec. 2021
See More
Noun
Indiana’s domination of Indiana State on Friday didn’t come without a few hiccups.
—Zion Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Sep. 2023
The only hiccup arose during the Ravens’ preseason game on Aug. 12, a day that saw a high of 93 degrees.
—Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023
The time people on the back end would like to use on validating and beta testing new features and updates simply isn't there, so some hiccups are to be expected.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
That’s not to say Montgomery’s first hiccup as a Ranger was the lone flaw.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2023
The only hiccup is that both parties need to have a Venmo account in order to secure the funds.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 30 Aug. 2023
Still, for every hiccup, there are grateful parents.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Aug. 2023
Wagner was pleased to see the unexpected hiccup against Concordia Prep was corrected with Thursday’s fine all-around performance.
—Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Though there were some hiccups regarding the couch’s quality and other issues, the retailer was able to help remedy them.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2023
Verb
Some babies hiccup frequently, even multiple times a day.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 10 Aug. 2023
If your baby starts hiccupping during feeding, wait until the hiccups are gone to continue feeding.5
Treatment
Typical hiccups that last for less than 48 hours are medically termed acute hiccups.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 6 Aug. 2023
The batteries were also crucial to keeping the power on when a nuclear plant hiccuped and went offline earlier in the week, said Doug Lewin, a Texas energy consultant.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 24 June 2023
The voice hiccupped, almost as if the man were struggling.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2023
There’s a good movie to be made about podcasts that traffic in unsolved mysteries where hosts rank cliffhangers and that hiccuping dramatic cadence over journalism.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
The model and television personality, 37, posted a sweet video of her 1-month-old daughter looking cozy on top of a gray blanket with a white bib, lightly hiccuping as she was being fed milk.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
Often when someone starts to hiccup, a debate begins among everyone nearby over which home remedy is the true cure.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
Would wake up in the night to use the bathroom and start to hiccup.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 13 Dec. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hiccup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Articles Related to hiccup
Dictionary Entries Near hiccup
Cite this Entry
“Hiccup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hiccup. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
hiccup
1 of 2 noun
hic·cup
variants
also hiccough
: a sudden drawing in of breath that is followed and stopped by sudden closure of the glottis and accompanied by a gulping sound
hiccup
2 of 2 verb
variants
also hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped; hiccuping also hiccupping
: to make a hiccup or be affected with hiccups
Medical Definition
hiccup
1 of 2 noun
hic·cup
variants
also hiccough
1
: a spasmodic inhalation with closure of the glottis accompanied by a peculiar sound
2
: an attack of hiccuping
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
severe hiccups is sometimes seen after operation—Lancet
Lancetintractable hiccup … may be successfully treated—Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Associationhiccup
2 of 2 intransitive verb
variants
also hiccough
hiccuped also hiccupped or hiccoughed; hiccuping also hiccupping or hiccoughing
: to make a hiccup
also
: to be affected with hiccups
hiccuper
noun
also hiccougher
More from Merriam-Webster on hiccup
Nglish: Translation of hiccup for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hiccup for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hiccup
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