lope

noun \ ˈlōp \

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

Definition of lope

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

Recent Examples of lope from the Web

At other times, the 6-foot-4 professional gambler lopes, shoulders slightly hunched, through gaming areas and steps onto elevators -- the ordinariness of his movements camouflaging his dark aims.

— eliott c. mclaughlin, CNN, "Surveillance video showed an ordinary gambler. He turned out to be the Las Vegas gunman," 22 Mar. 2018
While the ride is comfortable and the car lopes along the highway unperturbed at 90 mph, the trip is accompanied by a bit of tire roar, which can become annoying on extended drives.

— james lipman, Car and Driver, "2018 Audi A5 Sportback vs. 2018 BMW 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 2018 Kia Stinger AWD," 1 Feb. 2018
There’s still the lope of hillbilly music—the steady one-two, one-two striding across the song’s landscape—but inside that is this tight dance beat.

— Longreads, "How Does It Feel? An Alternative American History, Told With Folk Music," 26 Oct. 2017
As the opening track lopes and sways in a midtempo groove, listeners slowly come around to the idea that the first track is also the only track.

— geoff dyer, New York Times, "My Obsession With the Necks, the Greatest Trio on Earth," 4 Oct. 2017
The market keeps defying his warnings, but one thing is certain: A future where EPS grows at 10% in a 4% (2% real) economy, where profits gallop while GDP lopes, is a Wall Street fantasy.

— shawn tully, Fortune, "How on Earth Can Profits Grow at 10% in a 2% Economy?," 28 July 2017
Sheridan’s dialogue shares the pleasurable, easy lope of Larry McMurtry, who has written evocatively of the West’s past and present.

— mary kaye schilling, Newsweek, "Taylor Sheridan's 'Wind River' is a Blistering Expose of Violence Against Native American Women," 28 July 2017
The bear passed before him at a lope, 50 yards away.

— National Geographic, "Inside the Effort to Kill Protections for Endangered Animals," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lope

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1809

See Words from the same year

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

lope

verb

Definition of lope

loped; loping

intransitive verb

: to move or ride at a lope

—

loper

noun

See lope defined for English-language learners

Examples of lope in a Sentence

The horses loped easily across the fields.
He went loping up the hill.
The outfielder loped after the ball.

Recent Examples of lope from the Web

Each winter, camels lope around the moon-like desert landscape of the lowest place on Earth under the watchful eyes of their Bedouin Arab herders, in an ancient tradition passed from father to son over the generations.

— Washington Post, "AP PHOTOS: By Dead Sea, camels graze at Earth’s lowest place," 18 Mar. 2018
Grooves swing, lope and gallop, while Chris Desiderio’s distorted, spacey guitar leads stab in and out.

— michael hamad, courant.com, "Waterbury Indie Rock Band Mandala Dreams Of Breaking Free With 'Cash For Smiles'," 8 Jan. 2018
Alek Shrader maintains his tenoral cool while having to lope around the stage as half-man, half-gorilla.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Steve Jobs opera in Santa Fe shows a troubled tech wizard in search of his humanity," 8 Aug. 2017
A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.

— michelle r. smith, idahostatesman, "End of an era: The final days of the Ringling Bros.," 19 May 2017
A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.

— michelle r. smith, idahostatesman, "End of an era: The final days of the Ringling Bros.," 19 May 2017
A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.

— michelle r. smith, idahostatesman, "End of an era: The final days of the Ringling Bros.," 19 May 2017
A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.

— glen barber, The Denver Post, "PHOTOS: Final Performance Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus," 21 May 2017
A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.

— glen barber, The Denver Post, "PHOTOS: Final Performance Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus," 21 May 2017

First Known Use of lope

circa 1825

lope Synonyms

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

LOPE Defined for English Language Learners

lope

verb

Definition of lope for English Language Learners

: to run in a relaxed way with long strides

LOPE Defined for Kids

lope

noun \ ˈlōp \

Definition of lope for Students

: an effortless way of moving with long smooth steps

lope

verb

Definition of lope for Students

loped; loping

: to go or run in an effortless way with long smooth steps

Learn More about lope

See words that rhyme with lope Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lope Spanish Central: Translation of lope Nglish: Translation of lope for Spanish speakers

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lope

Definition of lope

Recent Examples of lope from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lope

Other Equestrian Terms

lope

Definition of lope

loper

Examples of lope in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lope from the Web

First Known Use of lope

lope Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Equestrian Terms

LOPE Defined for English Language Learners

lope

Definition of lope for English Language Learners

LOPE Defined for Kids

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lope

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