hopper

noun

hop·​per ˈhä-pər 

1

a

: one that hops

b

: a leaping insect

specifically : an immature hopping form of an insect (such as a grasshopper or locust)

2

[from the shaking motion of hoppers used to feed grain into a mill]

a

: a usually funnel-shaped receptacle for delivering material (such as grain or coal)

also : any of various other receptacles for the temporary storage of material

b

: a freight car with a floor sloping to one or more hinged doors for discharging bulk materials

called also hopper car

c

: a box in which a bill to be considered by a legislative body is dropped

d

: a tank holding liquid and having a device for releasing its contents through a pipe

e

: a mix of things to be considered or done

Examples of hopper in a Sentence

The company has several new product ideas in the hopper.

Recent Examples on the Web

To apply, pile compost into the spreader hopper and push the spreader across your lawn in a north-to-south direction. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2025

The vehicle will use an array of robotic equipment — including a drill, hopper and rover — to scour the nearby area for confirmation that water ice is stored across the region. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025

Train hoppers can and do get injured or even killed. —Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025

Lunar Outpost could not deploy its small rover, and an innovative hopper could not be fired up to roam across the Moon. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hopper

• beach hopper
• hip-hopper
• the hopper

Rhymes for hopper

• chopper
• copper
• cropper
• dropper
• pauper
• popper
• proper
• shopper
• stopper
• topper
• whopper
• eavesdropper

Kids Definition

hopper

noun

hop·​per ˈhäp-ər 

1

a

: one that hops

b

: a leaping insect

especially : a young hopping form of an insect

2

a

: a usually funnel-shaped container for delivering material (as grain)

b

: a railroad car with a sloping floor and hinged doors

called also hopper car

c

: a tank with a device for releasing its liquid through a pipe

Biographical Definition

Hopper 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Hop·​per ˈhä-pər 

Edward 1882–1967 American artist

Hopper

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Grace 1906–1992 née Grace Brewster Murray American admiral, mathematician, and computer scientist

Hopper

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

(William) DeWolf 1858–1935 American actor