hop
hop
Hop (noun) means a short jump, especially on one leg or foot. Example: “The rabbit took a quick hop across the lawn.”
noun
1
A short jump, especially on one leg or foot.
"The rabbit took a quick hop across the lawn."
"With a little hop, the toddler landed in the middle of the puddle."
"Her game of hopscotch ended with one clumsy hop that sent her tumbling."
2
A short trip, especially by plane.
"We took a short hop across the island on a tiny plane."
"It was only a two-hour hop from the capital to the coast."
"It's just a quick hop from London to Paris."
3
A climbing plant whose flowers are used to flavour beer.
"This IPA uses a citrusy hop variety."
"Farmers train each hop to climb tall poles in the field."
"The brewer added a handful of dried hop flowers to the tank for bitterness."
verb
1
To jump a short distance, often on one leg.
"The kids hopped over the puddles on the way to school."
"She hopped onto the train just before the doors closed."
"The bird hopped along the fence, looking for crumbs."
How to use hop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick jump or short trip, or the plant used to flavour beer.
Common pairings
hop on a plane
hop over
hop skip and jump
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Word forms
- Plural
- hops
- Third person singular
- hops
- Past tense
- hopped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rabbit took a quick _____ across the lawn.
Etymology
From Old English hoppian, "to hop, spring, leap, dance," an old Germanic verb shared with Dutch and German equivalents.
Related words
Rhymes for hop
See all rhymes for hop →Frequently asked questions
What does “hop” mean?
The word “hop” means a short jump, especially on one leg or foot. In plain terms, a quick jump or short trip, or the plant used to flavour beer.
How do you pronounce “hop”?
“Hop” is pronounced hop (/hɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “hop” in a sentence?
Here is “hop” used in a sentence: “The rabbit took a quick hop across the lawn.”
What part of speech is “hop”?
Depending on how it is used, “hop” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hop” come from?
The word “hop” comes from Old English. From Old English hoppian, "to hop, spring, leap, dance," an old Germanic verb shared with Dutch and German equivalents.
Is “hop” a common word?
“Hop” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hop” have?
“Hop” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short jump, especially on one leg or foot.
What is the difference between a hop and a jump?
A hop is a small, light jump, usually off and onto the same one foot, or a quick bounce covering little distance. A jump is bigger and often uses both feet, launching the whole body higher or further. Every hop is a jump, but a small, springy one.
What is an example of a hop?
Hopping on one leg during a game of hopscotch is a classic example. So is a rabbit's short spring forward, a bird moving across the ground in little bounds, or someone hopping to keep weight off a sore ankle. Each is a brief, low jump.
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