the tip of the iceberg

noun phrase

: a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about

The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence

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Thinking that writing code was the only bottleneck for deploying new software is like the Titanic seeing the tip of the iceberg and assuming there was nothing underneath it. — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026 Hazle Township residents’ disdain for the $10,000 incentive is just the tip of the iceberg, Cook said. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 His fraudulent financial schemes had recently come under authorities’ microscope — and that was just the tip of the iceberg. — Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026 Mississippi State is just the tip of the iceberg with a tough SEC schedule coming for Missouri. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the tip of the iceberg

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Style

“The tip of the iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20tip%20of%20the%20iceberg. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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the tip of the iceberg

noun phrase

Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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