verb
Common
op
op
Op (verb) means informal term meaning to promote someone to administrator or operator status in an online chat or game. Example: “The moderators opped him after he'd helped run the server for months.”
verb
1
Informal term meaning to promote someone to administrator or operator status in an online chat or game.
"The moderators opped him after he'd helped run the server for months."
"The channel owner opped her so she could ban spammers from the chat."
"If you op your friend in the game, they can change the server settings."
2
To buy something secondhand from a charity or thrift shop.
"She opped a great leather jacket for a fiver."
"I opped a lovely wool coat on Saturday and it cost almost nothing."
"He opps most of his furniture at the local charity shop."
How to use op
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo grant someone admin rights online, or (regionally) to shop at a charity/thrift store.
When to use it
Very informal internet/gaming slang, or regional (Australian/NZ) slang for thrift shopping.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- ops
- Past tense
- opped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
If you _____ your friend in the game, they can change the server settings.
Etymology
Shortened from "operator" (chat/game sense) or from "op shop," short for "opportunity shop," a charity secondhand store.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “op” mean?
The word “op” means informal term meaning to promote someone to administrator or operator status in an online chat or game. In plain terms, to grant someone admin rights online, or (regionally) to shop at a charity/thrift store.
How do you pronounce “op”?
“Op” is pronounced op (/ɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “op” in a sentence?
Here is “op” used in a sentence: “The moderators opped him after he'd helped run the server for months.”
What part of speech is “op”?
“Op” is a verb.
Is “op” a common word?
“Op” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “op” have?
“Op” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal term meaning to promote someone to administrator or operator status in an online chat or game.
Where does the term op come from?
Op is short for operator and dates back to early internet relay chat, or IRC, where a channel operator held special powers such as kicking or banning users. To op someone meant to grant them that status. The term carried over into gaming and other chat platforms, where admins are still called ops.
What is the opposite of op?
The opposite is deop, meaning to remove someone's operator or administrator status and return them to an ordinary user. If a moderator misbehaves, an admin might deop them to strip their powers. The pair op and deop remain common shorthand in chat rooms, gaming servers, and similar online communities.
Is op formal or informal?
Op is informal slang used within online chat, gaming, and community platforms. You would not find it in a business email or formal document, but it is instantly understood among people who moderate or play in these spaces. It works as both a verb, to op, and a noun, an op.
What is an example of using op?
A server owner might say, I'll op you so you can manage the channel, meaning they will grant operator powers. Someone might also ask, can you op me? to request admin rights. The word always involves handing another person control or moderation abilities in an online space.
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