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Synonyms

bellhop

American  
[bel-hop] / ˈbɛlˌhɒp /

noun

  • bellhops
    plural
  1. a person who is employed, especially by a hotel, to carry guests' luggage, run errands, etc.


verb (used without object)

bellhopped, bellhopping
  1. Also bell-hop to work as a bellhop.

bellhop British  
/ ˈbɛlˌhɒp /

noun

  1. another name for bellboy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bellhop

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; bell 1 + hop 1

Explanation

A bellhop is a person whose job involves carrying people's luggage in a hotel. When you check into a fancy inn, the bellhop will take your suitcase up to your room for you. You can also call a bellhop a bellboy, unless she's a woman, in which case bellhop makes more sense. The main job of a bellhop is to help hotel customers transport their luggage to their rooms, or to their cars when they're checking out. The word comes from the old fashioned hotel practice of the desk clerk ringing a bell to summon the bellhop — who would presumably "hop" to work, hurrying to help with the patron's bags.

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Vocabulary lists containing bellhop

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Its founder, Guccio Gucci, had a stint working as a bellhop in the Savoy, the luxury London hotel, more than a century ago.

From Seattle Times May 13, 2024

He was, for a day, a short-order cook, a bellhop, a social work aide, a plumber.

From New York Times Apr. 16, 2024

I found myself pulled over in front of a hotel, with the bellhop asking if I could help a couple of his guests to find the nearby garage at which they had parked their vehicle.

From Washington Post Aug. 26, 2022

That said, Delaney and Patsy Ferran, who plays the quirky bellhop Joy, are among the highlights.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 26, 2021

Barry had a friend who worked as a bellhop at a hotel in the financial district.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

The hospitality and tourism industry is a key contributor to L.A.’s economy, employing more than 540,000 people who work as room cleaners, dishwashers, restaurant servers and bellhops, among other jobs.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 13, 2025

Pack lightly enough to be free from porters, taxi drivers and bellhops.

From New York Times Nov. 18, 2024

The strike encompassed housekeepers, dishwashers, cooks, waiters, bellhops and front-desk agents,

From Reuters Jul. 5, 2023

No progress was reported in negotiations between employers and Unite Here Local 11, which represents bellhops, front desk agents, room attendants, cooks, servers and dishwashers.

From Seattle Times Jul. 5, 2023

The concierge seemed too intimidating, so he asked one of the bellhops, who directed him to the house phone.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

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