Illustration of hop
- 3hop 2
hopped; hopping
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
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
1
2
3
a
: a flight in an aircraft
b
: a short trip
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
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
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
DeChambeau hopped and skipped in the air like a youthful cheerleader, kicking his legs in wild directions with each leap.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
His biggest blemish came in a two-run third inning when Nick Sogard’s sacrifice bunt with runners on second and first base forced Rodón to short-hop a throw to first.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hop
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Verb
In fact, the woman hopping away from the frame is Monica Velasco, a former Dolphins cheerleader who has been married to Taylor since August 2020.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
DeChambeau hopped and skipped in the air like a youthful cheerleader, kicking his legs in wild directions with each leap.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Another inmate nearly shanked the hip hop mogul but was stopped by a guard, attorney Brian Steel said.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
His biggest blemish came in a two-run third inning when Nick Sogard’s sacrifice bunt with runners on second and first base forced Rodón to short-hop a throw to first.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hop
Cite this Entry
“Hop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hop. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hop
1 of 4 verb
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 noun1
a
: a short brisk leap especially on one leg
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 noun1
: 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 noun1
: 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
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