lope

1 of 2

noun

ˈlōp 

1

: an easy natural gait of a horse resembling a canter

2

: an easy usually bounding gait capable of being sustained for a long time

lope

2 of 2

verb

loped; loping

intransitive verb

: to move or ride at a lope

loper noun

Synonyms

Verb

• bounce
• bound
• hop
• lollop
• skip
• trip

Examples of lope in a Sentence

Verb

The horses loped easily across the fields.

He went loping up the hill.

The outfielder loped after the ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There is also more than a bit of repetition — scenes played in different settings, with different energies, props and clues, but making more or less the same point, even as the series lopes bit by bit toward a conclusion. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

Kaytranada’s signature beat, halfway between the pulse of house and the drunken lope of J Dilla, rarely lets up. —Daniel Bromfield, SPIN, 7 June 2024

Verb

The mole tunnel had contained an actual mole, gorging on millipedes beneath our feet; the striped skunk tracks had been left by an actual skunk, loping down a dirt road to fulfill its secret ends. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

With an outdoor fire pit, lake access, and plenty of space to lope; this would be a great retreat in any season. —Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English loup, lope leap, probably from Old Norse hlaup; akin to Old English hlēapan to leap — more at leap

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lope

noun

ˈlōp

: an easy leaping way of moving

lope verb

loper noun