pop

[ pop ]

/ pɒp /

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See synonyms for pop on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), popped, pop·ping.

to make a short, quick, explosive sound: The cork popped.

to burst open with such a sound, as chestnuts or corn in roasting.

to come or go quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: She popped into the kitchen to check the stove.

to shoot with a firearm: to pop at a mark.

to protrude from the sockets: The news made her eyes pop.

Baseball.

to hit a pop fly (often followed by up).
to pop out.

Informal. to be bright or prominent, especially as against something less distinctive: I love how the colors pop against the neutral walls.

verb (used with object), popped, pop·ping.

to cause to make a sudden, explosive sound.

to cause to burst open with such a sound.

to open suddenly or violently: to pop the hood on a car; to pop the tab on a beer can.

to put or thrust quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: He popped the muffins into the oven.

Informal. to cause to fire; discharge: He popped his rifle at the bird.

to shoot (usually followed by at, off, etc.): He popped off bottles with a slingshot.

British Slang. to pawn.

Informal.

to take or swallow (pills), especially in excess or habitually; take orally in a compulsive or addictive way: Popping all those pills will land him in the hospital.
to eat in a continual or thoughtless manner, as snack foods: popping peanuts at the movies.

noun

a short, quick, explosive sound.

a popping.

a shot with a firearm.

Informal. soda pop.

a drink or portion of an alcoholic beverage, as a drink of whiskey or a glass of beer: We had a couple of pops on the way home.

Baseball. pop fly.

Informal. a bright or prominent burst of something: Citrus can add a pop of flavor.

adverb

with an explosive sound: The balloon went pop.

quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: Pop, the door flew open!

adjective

Informal. unexpected; without prior warning or announcement: The teacher gave us a pop quiz.

Verb Phrases

pop for, Informal. to pay or buy for oneself or another, especially as a gift or treat; spring for: I'll pop for the first round of drinks.

pop in, Informal. to visit briefly and unexpectedly; stop in; drop by: Maybe we'll pop in after the movie.

pop off, Informal.

to die, especially suddenly.
to depart, especially abruptly.
to express oneself volubly or excitedly and sometimes irately or indiscreetly: He popped off about the injustice of the verdict.

pop out, Baseball. to be put out by hitting a pop fly caught on the fly by a player on the opposing team.

pop up, Baseball. to hit a pop fly.

OTHER WORDS FOR pop

3 appear, burst.

See synonyms for pop on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about pop

a pop, Slang. each; apiece: five orchids at $30 a pop.

pop the question, Informal. to propose marriage: They dated for two years before he popped the question.

Origin of pop

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English verb poppen “to strike”; of expressive origin

regional variations of pop

19. See soda pop.

Words nearby pop

poor white trash, poor-will, Pooterish, pootle, poove, pop, pop art, Popayán, pop concert, popcorn, popcorn flower

Other definitions for pop (2 of 8)

pop²

[ pop ]

/ pɒp /

adjective

of or relating to popular songs: pop music; pop singers.

of or relating to pop art.

reflecting or aimed at the tastes of the general masses of people: pop culture; pop novels.

noun

popular music: It's the first time she's sung pop.

pop art.

Origin of pop

First recorded in 1860–65; shortening of popular

Other definitions for pop (3 of 8)

pop³

[ pop ]

/ pɒp /

noun Informal.

father.

Origin of pop

First recorded in 1820–30; short form of poppa

Other definitions for pop (4 of 8)

pop⁴

[ pop ]

/ pɒp /

noun

a frozen ice or ice-cream confection on a stick: Two lemon pops, please.

Origin of pop

⁴

Probably shortening of Popsicle

Other definitions for pop (5 of 8)

POP

abbreviation

proof-of-purchase.

Other definitions for pop (6 of 8)

pop.

abbreviation

popular.

popularly.

population.

Other definitions for pop (7 of 8)

p.o.p.

abbreviation

point-of-purchase.

Other definitions for pop (8 of 8)

P.O.P.

abbreviation

printout paper.

point-of-purchase.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pop in a sentence

Just tap and hold on the keyboard when it pops up in any app, then slide your finger across to the keys you want to press without lifting it.
Get around your phone more quickly than you already are|David Nield|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
It started out as a way of finding stuff on the various websites that were popping up, but ended up shaping the very medium it was indexing.
Are search engines dead in China?|Ada Luo|September 14, 2020|Search Engine Watch
In the original complaint, Murphy made the eye-popping charge that Nielsen had perjured herself in front of Congress.
What to make of the DHS whistleblower’s shocking complaint|Alex Ward|September 11, 2020|Vox
It’s a revolving door of regular events, from karaoke and DJ nights to pop-up dinners.
Pre-pandemic, Kuala Lumpur’s hospitality scene was heating up with new design-forward boutique hotels|Rachel King|September 5, 2020|Fortune

Instances of the Sator square have popped up all over Europe.
The ancient palindrome that explains Christopher Nolan’s Tenet|Alissa Wilkinson|September 4, 2020|Vox
Sophisticated, nuanced, melodious pop music, that sweeps you away.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The airline industry objects that sometimes these deployable recorders can pop out without cause, spreading needless alarm.
Red Tape and Black Boxes: Why We Keep ‘Losing’ Airliners in 2014|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Within a few summer weeks, “Hot N—” had become an inescapable pop-culture phenomenon and Bobby landed a major record deal.
Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream|Rawiya Kameir|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Growing up in that suburbia and air of pop culture, these images stayed with me like a weird dream.
Tim Burton Talks ‘Big Eyes,’ His Taste For the Macabre, and the ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel|Marlow Stern|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nicki treats the obsession with her pop ambitions as an irrelevant, surface-level irritation.
Nicki Minaj Bares Her Own Vulnerability on ‘The Pinkprint’|Rawiya Kameir|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, when I am called upon to produce a laugh from Timothy, I no longer make faces or "pop."
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 158, April 28, 1920|Various
Pop that shawl away in my castor, Dodger, so that I may know where to find it when I cut; thats the time of day!
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
There came a "pop" like an exploding fire-cracker, and a bullet whistled past Matt's ear.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Here's my notion: To make a pop'lar measure of it; somethin' that'll appeal to the folks.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
To Mildred he was one of that numerous army of brevet relations known as gran-pop, pop, or uncle.
The Fifth String |John Philip Sousa

British Dictionary definitions for pop (1 of 5)

pop¹

/ (pɒp) /

verb pops, popping or popped

to make or cause to make a light sharp explosive sound

to burst open or cause to burst open with such a sound

(intr; often foll by in, out, etc) informal to come (to) or go (from) rapidly or suddenly; to pay a brief or unexpected visit (to)

(intr) (esp of the eyes) to protrudeher eyes popped with amazement

to shoot or fire at (a target) with a firearm

(tr) to place or put with a sudden movementshe popped some tablets into her mouth

(tr) informal to pawnhe popped his watch yesterday

(tr) slang to take (a drug) in pill form or as an injectionpill popping

pop one's clogs See clog 1 (def. 9)

pop the question informal to propose marriage

noun

a light sharp explosive sound; crack

informal a flavoured nonalcoholic carbonated beverage

informal a try; attempthave a pop at goal

informal an instance of criticismTownsend has had a pop at modern bands

a pop informal each30 million shares at 7 dollars a pop

adverb

with a popping sound

interjection

an exclamation denoting a sharp explosive sound

Word Origin for pop

C14: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for pop (2 of 5)

pop²

/ (pɒp) /

noun

music of general appeal, esp among young people, that originated as a distinctive genre in the 1950s. It is generally characterized by a strong rhythmic element and the use of electrical amplification
(as modifier)pop music; a pop record; a pop group

informal a piece of popular or light classical music

adjective

informal short for popular

British Dictionary definitions for pop (3 of 5)

pop³

/ (pɒp) /

noun

an informal word for father

informal a name used in addressing an old or middle-aged man

British Dictionary definitions for pop (4 of 5)

POP

abbreviation for

point of presence: a device that enables access to the internet

internet post office protocol: a protocol which brings e-mail to and from a mail server

Post Office Preferred (size of envelopes, etc)

persistent organic pollutant

British Dictionary definitions for pop (5 of 5)

pop.

abbreviation for

popular

popularly

population

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

pop

OTHER WORDS FOR pop

Idioms about pop

Origin of pop

regional variations of pop

Words nearby pop

Other definitions for pop (2 of 8)

Origin of pop

Other definitions for pop (3 of 8)

Origin of pop

Other definitions for pop (4 of 8)

Origin of pop

Other definitions for pop (5 of 8)

Other definitions for pop (6 of 8)

Other definitions for pop (7 of 8)

Other definitions for pop (8 of 8)

Words related to pop

How to use pop in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pop (1 of 5)

Word Origin for pop

British Dictionary definitions for pop (2 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for pop (3 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for pop (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for pop (5 of 5)