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• prop
  prop

  verb (used with object)

  to support, or prevent from falling, with or as if with a prop (often followed byup ).
• prop-
  prop-

  a combining form representing propionic acid in compound words.
• prop.
  prop.

  abbreviation

  properly.

prop

¹ American  

[prop] / prɒp /

verb (used with object)

• props,
  present (3rd person singular)
• propped,
  past participle,  past
• propping
  present participle

1. 

   to support, or prevent from falling, with or as if with a prop (often followed byup ).

   to prop an old fence; to prop up an unpopular government.

   Synonyms:

   bolster, buttress, brace

2. to rest (a thing) against a support.

   He propped his cane against the wall.

3. to support or sustain (often followed byup ).

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noun

1. a stick, rod, pole, beam, or other rigid support.

2. a person or thing serving as a support or stay.

   His father is his financial prop.

prop ² American  

[prop] / prɒp /

noun

Theater.

1. property.

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prop ³ American  

[prop] / prɒp /

noun

1. a propeller.

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prop- ⁴ American  

1. a combining form representing propionic acid in compound words.

   propanil.

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prop. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. properly.

2. property.

3. proposition.

4. proprietary.

5. proprietor.

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prop ¹ British  

/ prɒp /

verb

1. (tr) to support with a rigid object, such as a stick

2. to place or lean

3. (tr) to sustain or support

4. (intr) to stop suddenly or unexpectedly

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noun

1. something that gives rigid support, such as a stick

2. a person or thing giving support, as of a moral or spiritual nature

3. rugby either of the forwards at either end of the front row of a scrum

prop ² British  

/ prɒp /

noun

1. short for property

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prop ³ British  

/ prɒp /

noun

1. an informal word for propeller

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prop Idioms  

1. see knock the bottom (props) out from.

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Usage

What does prop mean? In theater and film, a prop is any item on the set of a production other than the costumes and scenery. It especially refers to an object handled or used by actors during their performance. This can be just about anything: a sword, a supercomputer, and a coffee mug are all examples of things that can be used as props in a production. Sometimes, these are real objects (like the coffee mug), but sometimes they are specially made for the production (like the supercomputer). The word can also be used more generally to refer to an item used in a similar way, such as during a presentation or photoshoot. Example: At my improv class, we have a box of items we can use as props during each scene. Unrelatedly, prop is also a common verb meaning to support something or hold it up, especially by using something else. This sense of the verb is most commonly used in the verb phrase prop up, as in One of the legs is broken so we had to prop up the table with the trash can. It can also be used figuratively, as in Holiday sales are the only thing propping up the company. Prop can also mean rest or lean something against something else that serves as a support, as in I don’t have a stand for my guitar so I just prop it against the wall. Something that serves as a support for something in this way can be called a prop, as in We’ll need to use a prop to keep it stable. Example: Prop the door open with a chair so we don’t get locked out.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• propless
  adjective
• unpropped
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• propping
  present
• propped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prop
  simple
• props
  simple
• have propped
  perfect
• has propped
  perfect
• am propping
  progressive
• are propping
  progressive
• is propping
  progressive
• have been propping
  perfect progressive
• has been propping
  perfect progressive

Past

• propped
  simple
• had propped
  perfect
• was propping
  progressive
• were propping
  progressive
• had been propping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prop
  simple
• will have propped
  perfect
• will be propping
  progressive
• will have been propping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of prop¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noun prop(p)e “support, support for a vine or plant”; cognate with Middle Dutch proppe “bottle stopper,” early Modern Dutch “support for vines”

Origin of prop²

First recorded in 1910–15; by shortening

Origin of prop³

First recorded in 1910–15; by shortening

Explanation

A prop is something you use as a support, like a broom that serves as a prop to hold a door open. A prop is also something that goes on stage, like a garbage can in a Beckett play. When you use a prop, you can say you prop something, or prop it up: "Here, prop your blanket fort up with this chair." This handy word also means "a moveable object used on the set of a movie or play." If you get a film job as a prop master, you'll be in charge of placing props in the correct spot before a scene is shot. This theatrical meaning is actually a shortened form of properties.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prop prop- prop. props propped propping

Bulldogs prop King, born in Huddersfield while his Australian father David was a player there, features alongside fellow debutant Hugo Savala, part of Sydney Roosters' NRL Grand Final-winning squad.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

But the president has never had to confront a prop that has stopped cooperating.

From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026

They feared that having a former movie prop close to the museum could damage its reputation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Trade is helping to prop up growth, making access to overseas markets more important than ever.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Faizah sat next to me and tried to get me to prop my ankle up on one of my bags to help with the swelling.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Thanks to the increased efficiency of waterjets and the lower drag of a shaft-, strut-, prop- and rudder-free bottom, the folks at Huckins expect the boat to run a little bit faster.

From Time Magazine Archive

“I’m almost like a prop. That is a picture of that little boy.”

From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2023

“You are very well aware of the rules tonight. And you have a prop. That is not allowed, sir. I ask you to put that prop away,” the moderator said, after a testy exchange.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 15, 2022

Mr. Walker replied, “Well, it’s not a prop. This is real.”

From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2022

“First of all, we cannot use Bibles as a prop. And for those that have agendas that are not about justice, this family will not let you use George as a prop,” said Mr. Sharpton.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 4, 2020

Bellows is prop. a pl. and the orig. sense is bag.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster

In a post-screening, on-stage discussion last week, Cruise noted the carefully handcrafted props and sets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

She said a lot of the props have "a personal touch" too, from her mum's ironing board to her granny's lampshade in the living room.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

When he noticed spots that lagged, he added audience interaction like balloon drops, props and places to “quack like a duck” and “swim like a fish.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

But Kyla says she personally loves the ones which play on the lyrics "baby" and "honey" by using dolls and real honey as props.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

We chased him down on the stage and knocked over a lot of the props, but we finally got the beautiful blue robe on him.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

The sector has propped up the labor market in the United States in the last year, as an aging population requires more care.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Alistair, who was in third at the time, propped Jonny up for the final 700m and helped him over the line.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Years of strong gains for the so-called Magnificent Seven and other technology names have quietly propped up Americans’ spending and the U.S. economy in general.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

Sony earnings in the April-June quarter were solid but were propped up by U.S. tariff rebates and a weak yen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

She too had slept in her clothes; she was sprawled in an armchair, with her feet propped on an ottoman and a blanket draped over her.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

She said support from all over Ireland was "propping up our community right now; we have never seen support and solidarity like it".

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

“There are a lot of things propping up rates right now,” said Chen Zhao, head of economics research at Redfin, citing geopolitical conflict, inflation from artificial intelligence spending and potential Fed rate hikes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

One side of the terraced row of houses on Llewellyn Street was demolished and replaced by the motorway, leaving the remaining side staring at either a huge concrete embankment or pillars propping up the M4.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Artificial intelligence has been “the one thing” propping up the economy and global markets, according to Apollo Global Management.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Taryn nodded, propping herself up on her elbow.

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

Related Words

• brace