lope

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlōp 

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

lope

2 of 3

verb

loped; loping

intransitive verb

: to move or ride at a lope

loper noun

loper

3 of 3

noun (2)

lop·​er

ˈlōpə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that lopes

especially : a saddle horse having the loping gait

2

: the vertical sliding pieces that when pulled out support the fall front of a desk or secretary

Synonyms of lope

Verb

• hop
• bounce
• skip

Examples of lope in a Sentence

Verb

The horses loped easily across the fields.

He went loping up the hill.

The outfielder loped after the ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The song may be six minutes long, but the circuitous lope of his acoustic-guitar strum and low throb of his warbling feel eternal, like the type of tune Sisyphus might have hummed to keep himself company. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

There are dancers and puppets, including six life-size celestial horses who suddenly gain their freedom and lope off across the clouds to celebrate. — Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025

Verb

Got a perfect match from Chris Richards, the Afro-rocking defender with the long, loping strides, who was 83 for 83 on his passes. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026

That huge, thin-rimmed steering wheel makes low-speed maneuvers easy despite the lack of assistance, and the car has a lovely, loping ride. — Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lope

• cope
• dope
• grope
• mope
• nope
• rope
• scope
• shope
• slope
• soap
• stope
• swope

Kids Definition

lope

noun

ˈlōp

: an easy leaping way of moving

lope verb

loper noun