adjective
choppy
CHO-pee
Choppy (adjective) means Full of small, rough waves. Example: “The ferry crossing was rough because the sea was choppy.”
adjective
1
Full of small, rough waves.
"Safely navigating choppy waters has allowed FirstGroup to pay its first interim dividend for almost a decade, and only its second since payments restarted in August."
— , Network News: First pays out interim dividend after reporting £37m pre-tax profit (2022)
"“Huh, this lazy river seems like it's getting pretty choppy.”"
— Stephanie Amante-Ritter, The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel (2024)
"The ferry crossing was rough because the sea was choppy."
"Commander Birch was a trifle uneasy when he found there was more than a popple on the sea; it was, in fact, distinctly choppy."
— Lawrence R. Bourne (1928)
2
Uneven or disjointed, moving in short bursts rather than smoothly.
"The film had a choppy editing style that some viewers found jarring."
How to use choppy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRough and broken up — used for water, but also for anything (like editing, or a market) that moves in jerky, uneven bursts.
Common pairings
choppy water
choppy seas
choppy editing
choppy trading
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Word forms
- Comparative
- choppier
- Superlative
- choppiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ferry crossing was rough because the sea was _____.
Etymology
From chop plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for choppy
See all rhymes for choppy →Frequently asked questions
What does “choppy” mean?
The word “choppy” means full of small, rough waves. In plain terms, rough and broken up — used for water, but also for anything (like editing, or a market) that moves in jerky, uneven bursts.
How do you pronounce “choppy”?
“Choppy” is pronounced CHO-pee (/ˈt͡ʃɑ.pi/ in IPA).
How do you use “choppy” in a sentence?
Here is “choppy” used in a sentence: “The ferry crossing was rough because the sea was choppy.”
What part of speech is “choppy”?
“Choppy” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “choppy” have?
“Choppy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: full of small, rough waves.
