pop

SayPOP/pɑp/UK/pɒp/

Pluralpops (some meanings)

Verbpops, popping, popped

39 meanings of pop

Practice

1
music stylenoununcountable
A kind of modern music with catchy tunes that many people enjoy.
She listens to pop while she does her homework.
That radio station only plays pop.
UsageSay pop or pop music. One piece is a pop song.
2
appear suddenlyverbintransitive
To move suddenly and quickly into or out of a place.
Like a toy that suddenly springs up out of a box.
A rabbit popped out of the hole and ran away.
Bubbles pop up to the surface when the water boils.
UsageOften pop out, pop in or pop up.
Note
3
mass cultureadjectivebefore a noun
Liked or followed by many people, especially in music, art, and everyday culture.
Pop culture changes fast from year to year.
She wrote a pop history book that everyone enjoyed.
UsageCommon in pop art, pop culture and pop music.
Similarpopular, mainstream, commercial
Oppositehighbrow
4
a sharp noisenouncountable
A short, sharp sound, like the noise a cork makes leaving a bottle.
Like the quick sound a bubble makes when it breaks.
The balloon burst with a loud pop.
We heard a pop as the cork left the bottle.
UsageSomething bursts with a pop or goes pop.
Similarbang, crack, snap, burst
5
verbintransitive
To make a short, sharp sound, or make something burst with that sound.
Like the small sound bubble wrap makes when you press it.
The balloon popped when it touched the candle.
Bubble wrap makes a fun sound when you pop it.
Similarburst, bang, crack, snap
6
verbintransitive
To clearly stand out and catch your eye.
Like a bright sticker on a plain wall that you notice right away.
The bright red letters really pop against the white page.
Her painting pops because of the bold colors.
UsageSay something really pops, or colors make a room pop.
Similarsing, shine, sparkle
7
quick visitverbintransitive
To go somewhere quickly for a short time.
Like quickly stopping by a friend's house on your way past.
I'll pop over to the store and be right back.
She popped into the cafe for a quick coffee.
UsageUse a small word after it: pop over, pop in, pop by.
Similarnip, drop, run, dash, stop
8
put quicklyverbAustraliaUKtransitive
To quickly put something in a place.
Like quickly dropping a coin into a piggy bank.
Pop the bread in the toaster for me.
She popped the keys in her bag and left.
UsageSay where it goes: pop it in your bag.
Similarnip
Note
9
fathernouncolloquialendearingcountable
A friendly, informal word for one's father.
My pop taught me how to ride a bike.
Pop, can you help me fix this?
UsageSay my pop or your pop, or call him Pop.
Similardad, pa, papa, father
10
a bold effectnouncountable or uncountable
A bright or strong quality that quickly catches your eye or attention.
Like one bright color in a gray room that your eyes jump straight to.
The red scarf adds a nice pop to her gray outfit.
Those bright pillows give the whole room some pop.
UsageSay a pop of color, or something gives a room some pop.
Similarpunch, zing, sparkle, burst
11
verbslangintransitive
To happen or take place.
Hey, what's popping at the park today?
Nothing ever seems to pop around here on a Monday night.
UsageFriends say What's popping? to ask what is going on.
Similarhappen, occur
Note

Less common meanings

12
noundialectalCanadaInland Northern AmericanMidlandsMidwestern USNorthern EnglandNorthwesternPennsylvaniaUSWesternuncountable
A sweet fizzy drink, like cola, or a can or bottle of it.
Can I have a glass of pop with dinner?
We bought some pop for the party.
UsageSay a can of pop or some pop.
Similarsoda
Note
13
take pillsverbslangtransitive
To quickly swallow a pill or small treat.
Like quickly tossing a candy into your mouth.
He popped a mint after lunch.
Don't pop pills without asking a doctor first.
UsagePop pills sounds like taking too many. Pop a mint is fine.
Similartake, swallow, down
Note
14
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A piece of hard, sweet candy on the end of a small stick.
Like candy you hold by a stick and lick instead of chew.
The doctor gave me a red pop on a stick for being brave.
He licked his pop until only the stick was left.
Similarlollipop, sucker, lolly
15
frozen tube treatnouncolloquialcountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for freeze pop: a frozen sweet treat in a plastic tube.
The kids grabbed a pop from the freezer on the hot afternoon.
She cut open a pop from the freezer and squeezed the icy tube.
Note
16
sound wordinterjection
A short, sharp sound, like a cork leaving a bottle.
Pop! The cork shot toward the ceiling the moment she twisted it.
Pop! The bubble of gum burst right on her chin.
UsageWrite Pop! and then what happened: Pop! went the balloon.
Similarbang, pow
Note
17
shoot (gun)verbslangtransitive
To shoot someone with a gun.
The robber swore he would pop anyone who moved.
Someone popped the store clerk during the holdup.
Similarshoot, cap, whack
Note
18
hitverbtransitive
To hit someone or something quickly and sharply.
Like giving someone a quick tap with your fist.
The boxer popped his opponent on the chin.
Pop him on the arm if he won't listen.
UsageSay pop someone on the arm, or pop someone one.
Similarhit, punch, smack, tap, whack
19
ears clearverbintransitive
When your ears suddenly feel clear as the pressure inside them changes.
Like the little click you feel in your ears on a fast elevator ride.
My ears popped as the plane started to land.
Your ears pop when you go up a tall mountain.
Similarclear
20
number of peoplenoununcountable
The number of people living in a place.
The sign at the edge of town said: Pine Hill, pop. 850.
The map lists the village as Oak Creek, pop. 500.
UsageUsually written pop. before a number, as on signs: pop. 500.
Similarpopulation
21
per itemnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A single amount or portion, especially the cost for each one.
The tickets cost twenty dollars a pop.
These cupcakes are two dollars a pop.
UsageSay a price, then a pop: five dollars a pop means five dollars each.
Similarthrow, go (entry)
22
verbslangtransitive
To catch and hold someone for breaking the law, as the police do.
The police popped him for shoplifting.
Store security called the cops to pop the guy stealing phones.
UsagePeople often say someone got popped.
Similararrest, bust, nab, collar, nick
Oppositerelease
Note
23
board trickverbcolloquialtransitive
To do a jump or trick while riding a skateboard or similar board.
Like jumping straight up with the board still stuck under your feet.
He finally learned to pop an ollie at the skate park.
She popped a clean kickflip off the ramp.
UsageSay pop an ollie or pop a wheelie.
Similarpull, land, throw, perform
Note
24
street danceverbintransitive
To dance by quickly tensing and releasing your muscles in time with the music.
Like making your body jerk in tiny snaps that match the beat.
He learned to pop by watching dance videos online.
The crew popped in perfect time with the music.
UsageOften pop and lock.
Note
25
nouncountable or uncountable
A quick shot from a gun, often fired without taking careful aim.
He took a quick pop at the rabbit before it darted into the bushes.
The hunters got a few pops at the ducks as they rose from the water.
UsagePeople say take a pop at a target.
Similarshot, potshot
26
climaxverbslangvulgarintransitive
To reach sexual climax.
He was afraid he would pop too soon.
He was so excited that he worried he would pop too soon in bed.
UsageWhen talking about pregnancy, ready to pop means about to have a baby.
Similarclimax, come
27
give birthverbslangintransitive
To have a baby.
She looks like she could pop any day now.
His wife popped a week earlier than expected.
UsageMost often ready to pop: about to have a baby.
Similardeliver, drop
Note
28
noundatedcountable or uncountable
A small gun you can hold in one hand.
Similarpistol, handgun, gun, piece
Note
29
verbslang
To give something to a shop for money, hoping to buy it back later.
30
noun
In computing, taking the top item off a stack.
31
noun
A kind of thrush with red patches under its wings.
32
noun
In physics, a measure of how quickly crackle changes.
33
nounUS
A tiny unripe peanut people boil and eat.
34
nounslang
A loud reaction from a crowd.
35
noun
A way of playing, mainly on bass, by lifting a string and letting it snap back.
36
verb
In computing, to take the top item off a stack.
37
verb
To put a body part inside someone during sex.
38
verb
To hook a finger under a string, often on a bass, lift it, and let it slap back.
39
nounrare
A priest serving a local church of the Russian Orthodox faith.
There was at that time in the house of the Consul a Pop (or Russian Priest) named Iwan Afanassich.
1822, Mikhaïlov Vasiliï, Adventures of Michailow

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of pop apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 4–8, 10–19, 21–28

From Middle English pop, meaning a blow or strike. It imitates a short, sharp sound or action.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Pop derives from Middle English pop, meaning a blow or strike. en.wiktionary.org
The word has an imitative origin associated with a short, sharp sound or action. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 9

From papa or poppa.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Pop, meaning father, derives from papa or poppa. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 20

A short form of popular or population.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Pop is a short form of popular. en.wiktionary.org
Pop is a short form of population. en.wiktionary.org