zipped

"Zipped" is the past tense of the verb "zip," and it has a few handy meanings. Most commonly, you'll hear it used about closing something with a zipper, moving very fast, or compressing a computer file. Here are the most useful senses.

When you pull the small metal or plastic fastener on a bag, jacket, or pair of trousers to close it, you have 'zipped' it. Think of the 'zzzip' sound it makes — that's actually where the word comes from!

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She zipped her jacket before stepping out into the cold.

He zipped his backpack and headed to school.

I zipped the suitcase shut and carried it to the car.

2verbfigurativemoving very fast

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

A motorbike zipped past us on the highway.

She zipped through the supermarket and was back in ten minutes.

In computing, when you 'zip' a file or folder, you compress it — meaning you make it smaller so it takes up less space or is easier to send by email. 'Zipped' means this action has already been done.

computing / technology · Modern, widely used

I zipped all the photos into one folder before sending them.

The document was zipped, so I had to extract it first.

He zipped the files and uploaded them to the shared drive.

4adjectivefastened or sealed with a zipper

You can use 'zipped' to describe something that has a zipper on it, or that is currently closed by a zipper. It tells you about the state of the object.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She kept her passport in a zipped pocket of her bag.

The zipped pouch kept all the coins from falling out.