hop

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈhäp 

hopped; hopping

intransitive verb

1

: to move by a quick springy leap or in a series of leaps

also : to move as if by hopping

hop in the car

2

: to make a quick trip especially by air

3

: to set about doing something

—usually used in the phrase hop to it

transitive verb

1

: to jump over

hop a fence

2

: to ride on

hopped a flight

also : to ride surreptitiously and without authorization

hop a freight train

hop

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: a short brisk leap especially on one leg

b

: bounce, rebound

shortstop scooped it up on the first hop

2

: dance sense 3

3

a

: a flight in an aircraft

b

: a short trip

hop

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

hops plural : the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a north-temperate zone twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer

2

plural hops : the perennial climbing bine from which hops are obtained that have 3- to 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in scaly cone-like clusters

Illustration of hop

• ³hop 2

hop

4 of 4

verb (2)

hopped; hopping

transitive verb

: to flavor with hops

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bounce
• bound
• lollop
• lope
• skip
• trip

Noun (1)

• ball
• cotillion
• cotillon
• dance
• formal
• prom

Examples of hop in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a rabbit hopped across the frozen grass

the frog hopped back into the pond

the bus stopped, a lone passenger hopped on, and the driver continued on his way

Noun (1)

back in those days taking someone to the school hop was a big deal

she made it across the rocky creek in two hops

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This prevents the disease from hopping to other communities, Offit explains. —Ripley Cleghorn, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2025

Reuniting with her ex Danni (Sadie Scott), the pair hops around Trashtown to earn the fee while encountering some peculiar characters along the way. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

Noun

Straw-colored and exuberantly carbonated, this Love showcases fruity hops in the forefront, giving way to biscuity malts as the beer warms. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

While Hamilton mostly features hip hop and rap, 3 Summers of Lincoln is more traditionally Broadway, filled with anthems, ballads and enough catchy songs to eventually earn it a Tony nomination. —Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English hoppen, from Old English hoppian

Noun (2)

Middle English hoppe, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German hopfo hop

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1572, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hop

• a hop, skip, and (a) jump
• bed-hop
• hip hop
• hip hop dance
• hop hornbeam
• hop it
• hop-o'-my-thumb
• hop, skip, and jump
• hop, step, and jump
• hop to it
• island-hop
• sock hop
• table-hop
• trip-hop

Rhymes for hop

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op
• plop

Kids Definition

hop

1 of 4 verb

ˈhäp 

hopped; hopping

1

: to move by a quick springy leap or series of leaps

especially : to jump on one foot

2

: to jump over

hop a puddle

3

: to move or get aboard by or as if by hopping

hop a train

hop in the car

4

: to make a quick trip especially by air

hop

2 of 4 noun

1

a

: a short brisk leap especially on one leg

b

: bounce entry 2 sense 1b

2

: dance entry 2 sense 3, ball

the junior hop

3

a

: a flight in an airplane

b

: a short trip

hop

3 of 4 noun

1

: a twining vine related to the mulberry and having leaves with lobes and flowers in cone-shaped catkins

2

plural : the ripe dried catkins of a hop used especially to give a bitter flavor to malt liquors

hop

4 of 4 verb

hopped; hopping

: to flavor with hops

Etymology

Verb

Old English hoppian "to leap, hop"

Noun

Middle English hoppe "the hop vine"; of Dutch origin

Medical Definition

hop

1 of 2 noun

ˈhäp 

1

: a twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family with 3-lobed or 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in cone-like clusters

2

hops plural : the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a hop plant used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer and also in medicine as a tonic

HOP

2 of 2 abbreviation

high oxygen pressure