A ripple is a small wave that spreads across the surface of water, usually caused by something disturbing it. When you toss a pebble into a still pond, you'll see ripples move outward in circles from where the stone entered. Rain creates ripples as each drop hits the water. The word captures that gentle, spreading movement: not the crashing power of ocean waves, but something smaller and more delicate.

The word also describes similar wave-like patterns in other materials. A breeze might cause ripples across a wheat field, making the grain look like it's flowing. You might see ripples in sand dunes shaped by wind.

As a verb, ripple means to move in small waves or to cause something to do that. Water can ripple in the wind, or a breeze can ripple a flag.

Ripple also describes how effects spread outward from a single cause. When a popular student starts wearing a new style of shoes, a ripple effect might spread through the school as others copy the trend. A kind act can create ripples: helping one person might inspire them to help someone else, and so on. Scientists talk about how major discoveries create ripples through their field, changing how other researchers think.

The word suggests something that starts small but keeps spreading, touching more and more as it goes. Unlike a splash that happens once and ends, ripples keep moving outward, affecting things far from where they started.