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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

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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

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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

The home side were again guilty of conceding possession from the restart, but prop Nicky Smith produced an important turnover on his own line to help Wales lead by seven points at half-time.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

A series of humble jobs with fly-by-night outfits was his graduate school: film-lab gofer, title writer, prop man.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

After recent sharp drops for some Chinese tech stocks, Beijing is trying to prop them up -- seeing the sector, and in particular AI, as a central strategic priority.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Even with replacement prop Mona Lisa Tupou being sent to the sin bin for a scrum infringement, their resistance and physicality stayed high and was rewarded with Zackary's late score.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

But Jack threw his right arm on the ice and Hazel helped him prop himself up.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

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

"Nátúr," prop. a watchman: also a land-mark, a bench-mark of tamped clay.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 14 by Sir Richard Francis Burton

Daniels felt the rules were capricious, and perhaps personally tailored to obstruct her: the prohibition on props, the three-minute time limit, the penalty of “trespass” for those in violation.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Expect costumes, props and life-size vehicles from the film, as well as projection-based rooms designed to immerse guests in the desert planet of Arrakis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 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

What about how you used to build the props for Robbie’s Operetta Workshop?

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

He propped up Joury on a railing to watch the horses saunter past as they prepared for the race.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

"I was sleeping on the sofa, she had a bed that was propped up on books. One of the legs had fallen off completely."

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

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

Reports of a takeover offer have propped up PayPal’s stock in recent months, but now the company may have to execute a turnaround on its own.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

I quickly escaped my gown and corset and propped my overworked feet on the pillow to air them out.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

"Services are being dismantled - and our nurses are propping things up," Mitchell adds.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Economists have long warned, however, that the fruits of that growth are not being evenly distributed, with high-income households disproportionately benefiting, and also propping up consumption-led growth.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Wall Street’s hopes for strong earnings growth have been one of the main drivers propping up the stock market.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 25, 2026

Only Ararat-Armenia and their inferior goal difference keeps the Scottish champions from propping up the table.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

As I was crawling blindly my face rammed into one of the concrete slabs propping one of the table’s legs.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

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