hiccup
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˈhɪk.ʌp/
KK: /ˈhɪkʌp/
intransitive verb
Definition
To make a sudden, involuntary sound caused by a spasm of the diaphragm, often occurring repeatedly.
Example
After drinking soda too quickly, I started to hiccup.
Tense Forms
Past: hiccupped
Past Participle: hiccupped
Conversation
I can't believe I just hiccupped in the middle of my presentation!
Oh no! That can be so embarrassing.
Yeah, I didn’t know how to react when it happened.
Just laugh it off — everyone gets a little hiccup now and then!
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
gulp
hiccough
spasm
Antonyms
calm
settle
silence
noun
Definition
A sudden, involuntary sound made when the diaphragm spasms, often causing a quick breath that is interrupted by a closure in the throat.
Example
After drinking soda too quickly, I got a bad case of the hiccups.
Conversation
Did you hear that strange sound earlier?
Yeah, it sounded like a hiccup or something.
I wasn't sure if it was a hiccup or just my imagination.
Root Explanation
Hiccup originates from the Middle English 'hiccup' (meaning a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm), which is imitative of the sound made during the action. The word does not have clear Latin or Greek roots but is derived from the sound itself.
Memory Tip
Think of the sound that comes from a sudden contraction of the diaphragm — that's what a hiccup is, and the word mimics that sound.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.