popped; popping; pops
1
: to strike or knock sharply : hit
popped him in the jaw
2
: to push, put, or thrust suddenly or briefly
pops a grape into his mouth
She popped her head in the door.
Pop the pastry in the oven for ten minutes.
3
: to cause to explode or burst open
popped some popcorn
pop the trunk
4
: to fire at : shoot
5
: to take (pills) especially frequently or habitually
6
: to open with a pop
pop a cold beer
7
: to flip (something) into an upturned position
pop a collar
1
a
: to go, come, or appear suddenly
images popping up on the screen
New businesses are popping up all over town.
(figurative) We were discussing candidates for the job, and your name popped up.
She popped in for a visit.
We're going to pop next door for a minute.
The idea just popped into my head.
The chipmunk popped out of its burrow.
: to move suddenly from one position or state to another
Her eyes popped open.
When I heard the siren, I popped straight up in bed.
b
: to escape or break away from something (such as a point of attachment) usually suddenly or unexpectedly
The lid keeps popping off of the container.
A couple of screws popped loose.
The instant I felt the front tires lurch forward, I applied some throttle and the truck popped free.—Slaton L. White
c
: to be or become striking or prominent
colors that pop
… a mild sauce punctuated with tiny dried shrimp that pop with salinity.—John Kessler
2
: to make or burst with a sharp sound
a balloon popped
3
: to protrude or seem to protrude from the sockets : to open very wide
eyes popping with amazement
4
: to shoot with a firearm
5
: to hit a pop fly
—often used with up or out
see also:
1
: a sharp explosive sound
2
: a shot from a gun
3
: soda pop
4
: pop fly
5
: power to hit a baseball hard
a hitter with some pop in his bat
6
: a drink or shot of alcohol
7
: a small portion of something that makes a vivid impression
… clean lines … set off by bright pops of color …—Catherine Piercy
see also:
1
: popular
pop culture
… from the big bands of the 50s and the disco fever of the 70s, to the pop music of today.—Angel Gomez
: such as
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of popular music
pop singers
reached number 10 on the pop charts
Her [Bonnie Pointer's] three sisters … shed their retro image for a modern pop sound, and became one of the biggest acts of the 1980s …—Andrew Dalton
As their career progressed, Queen ventured into more mainstream, radio-friendly territory, embracing elements of … pop rock. [=rock with characteristics of pop music]—Matt Drake
The events playlist includes pop country, classic country and music from spaghetti westerns.—Paris Wolfe
b
: of or relating to the popular culture disseminated through the mass media
pop psychology
pop grammarians
pop society
2
a
: of or relating to pop art
a pop painter
b
: having, using, or imitating themes or techniques characteristic of pop art
a pop movie
1
a
: popular music
b
pops plural
: an orchestra that plays light classical and popular music
went to hear the Boston Pops
also
: light classical and popular music played typically by an orchestra
a summer pops concert
2
: pop art
3
: pop culture
population
point of purchase
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pop. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.
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