hopping

American  

[hop-ing] / ˈhɒp ɪŋ /

adjective

1. working energetically; busily engaged.

   He kept the staff hopping in order to get the report finished.

2. going from one place or situation to another of a similar specified type (usually used in combination).

   restaurant-hopping.

---

idioms

1. hopping mad, furious; enraged.

   He was hopping mad when his daughter dropped out of college.

hopping British  

/ ˈhɒpɪŋ /

noun

1. the action of a person or animal that hops

2. dialect a fair, esp ( the Hoppings ) an annual fair in Newcastle

---

adjective

1. in a terrible rage

Etymology

Origin of hopping

First recorded in 1665–75; hop ¹ + -ing ²

Compare meaning

How does hopping compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hoping vs. hopping

Example Sentences

"Within living memory, our streets, parks and gardens were alive with buzzing insects, hopping frogs, singing birds and bustling hedgehogs," Harris said.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Once set times are released and you’re plotting your own schedule, don’t plan on easily hopping back and forth between the Sahara Tent and most of the other stages.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Testing the “Ring My Bell” theory is easy—and cheaper than hopping on a gambling app.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

"Creating with musical teams is great, but hopping into a different realm and being hyper creative with full-stack developers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, world builders -- that is the ultimate level of creativity."

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Colin exclaimed, hopping up and down on one foot and twirling his mask.

From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon

Related Words

• bounce
• dive
• drop
• fall
• hurdle
• plunge
• rise
• upsurge
• vault