plop

American  

[plop] / plɒp /

verb (used without object)

plopped, plopping

1. to make a sound like that of something falling or dropping into water.

   A frog plopped into the pond.

2. to fall with such a sound.

   Big raindrops plopped against the window.

3. to drop or fall with full force or direct impact.

   He plopped into a chair.

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verb (used with object)

plopped, plopping

1. to drop or set down heavily.

   She plopped her books on the desk.

2. to cause to plop.

   The fisherman plopped the bait into the river.

noun

1. a plopping sound or fall.

2. the act of plopping.

adverb

1. with a plop.

   The stone fell plop into the water.

plop British  

/ plɒp /

noun

1. the characteristic sound made by an object dropping into water without a splash

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verb

1. to fall or cause to fall with the sound of a plop

   the stone plopped into the water

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of this sound

   to go plop

Etymology

Origin of plop

First recorded in 1815–25; imitative

Explanation

To plop is to drop something (or yourself) with a short sound. The sound itself is also a plop — like something landing in water without much of a splash. The sound of a plop is abrupt and hollow — you could also call it a plunk or a or a plonk. You might plop an ice cube in your glass of water, or watch a flock of bird plop themselves on the surface of a pond. Plop is imitative or onomatopoeic (it sounds like its meaning), and it first appeared in the 1820s after the brief popularity of the alternative word plap.

Example Sentences

Perhaps the loudest: lobbyists and salespeople who have used open seating to zero in on a prospective client or lawmaker and plop down next to them for an in-flight pitch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

You could plop her performance into a big Hollywood comedy and it would work just as well.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

They can often be identified from the distinctive plop sound they make when they dive into the water.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2024

They plop down in most of their destinations accidentally, since Widgit, the map’s keeper, is an inept navigator.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2024

“Nah. I’m just trying to not let history repeat itself, is all,” and we pull up to Aunt Heidi’s stop and plop down the stairs two at a time, onto the street below.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Related Words

• flutter
• plunk