bop

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈbäp 

bopped; bopping

transitive verb

: hit, sock

bop

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a blow (as with the fist or a club) that strikes a person

bop

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: jazz characterized by harmonic complexity, convoluted melodic lines, and constant shifting of accent and often played at very rapid tempos

2

: jive sense 1

bopper noun

bop

4 of 4

verb (2)

bopped; bopping

intransitive verb

1

: to go quickly or unceremoniously : pop

bop into the corner store

—often used with off

2

: to dance or shuffle along to or as if to bop music

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

Noun (1)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of bop in a Sentence

Verb (1)

she playfully bopped him on the head

Noun (1)

a bop to the printer sometimes fixes it

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

These unisex slides are the easiest slip-on-and-go shoes for letting the dog out, bopping around your house, or even running errands. —Madison Yauger, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

Jennifer Lava, a 40-year-old with stage 4 colon cancer, recently made it through 25 rounds of radiation by bopping out to two playlists. —Julia Ries, SELF, 4 Dec. 2024

Noun

The album then descends into a mix of West Coast bops and pensive soulful cuts, tapping Mustard yet again and a slew of local west coast artists that people may not have been familiar with. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 22 Nov. 2024

What comes out is an album about turning life lessons into bops and today’s hardships into tonight’s drink orders. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

imitative

Noun (2)

short for bebop

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1928, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

bop

1 of 2 verb

ˈbäp 

bopped; bopping

: hit entry 1 sense 1, sock

bop

2 of 2 noun

: a blow (as from a fist or club) that strikes a person