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

The grill has a large hopper, which Masterbuilt claims holds up to 12 hours’ worth of lump charcoal, and feeds the heat to the cook chamber via a fan. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 3 July 2025

These hopper quadcopters are a long way being ‘eternal drones’ like the U.S. Navy’s Skydweller which can fly indefinitely on solar and battery power. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Meanwhile, European and Japanese space agencies have funded a pair of reusable rocket hoppers named Themis and Callisto. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025

Honda's hopper is the first prototype rocket outside of the United States and China to complete a flight of this kind, demonstrating vertical takeoff and vertical landing technology that could underpin the development of a reusable launch vehicle. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 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