popular
POP-yuu-luh
Popular (adj) means Liked, enjoyed, or supported by a large number of people. Example: “Board games have become popular again among families who want less screen time.”
adj
1
Liked, enjoyed, or supported by a large number of people.
"Board games have become popular again among families who want less screen time."
"The café became popular with students almost overnight."
"It's one of the most popular songs of the summer."
2
Intended for or aimed at ordinary people rather than experts.
"The museum sells a popular guide to the garden, written for casual visitors."
"She prefers popular history to dense academic books full of footnotes."
"He writes popular science books that make physics accessible."
How to use popular
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWidely liked, or made for a general audience rather than specialists.
Common pairings
popular demand
popular opinion
popular culture
become popular
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Word forms
- Plural
- populars
- Comparative
- more popular
- Superlative
- most popular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Board games have become _____ again among families who want less screen time.
Etymology
From Old French populaire and Latin popularis, both ultimately from populus ("people").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for popular
See all rhymes for popular →Frequently asked questions
What does “popular” mean?
The word “popular” means liked, enjoyed, or supported by a large number of people. In plain terms, widely liked, or made for a general audience rather than specialists.
How do you pronounce “popular”?
“Popular” is pronounced POP-yuu-luh (/ˈpɑ.pjə.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “popular” in a sentence?
Here is “popular” used in a sentence: “The café became popular with students almost overnight.”
What is the opposite of “popular”?
The opposite of “popular” — its antonyms — are anonymous and unpopular.
What part of speech is “popular”?
“Popular” is an adjective.
Where does the word “popular” come from?
The word “popular” comes from Latin. From Old French populaire and Latin popularis, both ultimately from populus ("people").
Is “popular” a common word?
“Popular” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “popular” have?
“Popular” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: liked, enjoyed, or supported by a large number of people.
What is the difference between popular and famous?
Popular means widely liked or enjoyed, while famous means widely known. The two often overlap but not always: a celebrity can be famous yet disliked, and a local cafe can be popular without being famous. Popularity is about affection and support; fame is simply about recognition.
Does popular mean something is good?
Not necessarily. Popular only means many people like or support something, which is not the same as quality. A popular product can be poorly made, and an excellent book can go unread. Popularity measures how widely something is embraced, not how good it actually is.
What is the opposite of popular?
The direct opposite is 'unpopular', meaning disliked or unsupported by most people. Related antonyms include 'obscure' for something few have heard of, and 'niche' for something enjoyed by only a small group. The right choice depends on whether you mean actively disliked or simply not widely embraced.
What does 'popular' mean in 'popular vote' or 'popular opinion'?
Here 'popular' carries an older sense meaning of or by the general public, the ordinary people as a whole. The popular vote is the total cast by all voters, and popular opinion is what most people think. It refers to the people at large rather than to being well-liked.
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