Illustration of hop
- 3hop 2
hopped; hopping
1
: to move by a quick springy leap or in a series of leaps
also
: to move as if by hopping
hop in the car
2
: to make a quick trip especially by air
3
: to set about doing something
—usually used in the phrase hop to it
1
: to jump over
hop a fence
2
: to ride on
hopped a flight
also
: to ride surreptitiously and without authorization
hop a freight train
1
2
3
a
: a flight in an aircraft
b
: a short trip
1
hops plural
: the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a north-temperate zone twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer
2
plural hops
: the perennial climbing bine from which hops are obtained that have 3- to 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in scaly cone-like clusters
Examples of hop in a Sentence
Verb (1)
a rabbit hopped across the frozen grass
the frog hopped back into the pond
the bus stopped, a lone passenger hopped on, and the driver continued on his way
Noun (1)
back in those days taking someone to the school hop was a big deal
she made it across the rocky creek in two hops
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
The Step-Thru makes hopping on and off effortless, while the Step-Over offers a classic, sporty feel.
—New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2026
Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Hip-hop and rap is a spoken word art.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hop
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Verb
Ja Rule hopped on X on Monday night to defend himself and explain what happened with the G-Unit crew members.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
The Step-Thru makes hopping on and off effortless, while the Step-Over offers a classic, sporty feel.
—New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Hip-hop superstar Wiz Khalifa is joining him as one of the opening acts.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Hip-hop and rap is a spoken word art.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hop
Cite this Entry
“Hop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hop. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hop
1 of 4 verb
hopped; hopping
1
: to move by a quick springy leap or series of leaps
especially
: to jump on one foot
2
: to jump over
hop a puddle
3
: to move or get aboard by or as if by hopping
hop a train
hop in the car
4
: to make a quick trip especially by air
hop
2 of 4 noun1
a
: a short brisk leap especially on one leg
2
: dance entry 2 sense 3, ball
the junior hop
3
a
: a flight in an airplane
b
: a short trip
hop
3 of 4 noun1
: a twining vine related to the mulberry and having leaves with lobes and flowers in cone-shaped catkins
2
plural
: the ripe dried catkins of a hop used especially to give a bitter flavor to malt liquors
hop
4 of 4 verb
hopped; hopping
: to flavor with hops
Etymology
Verb
Old English hoppian "to leap, hop"
Noun
Middle English hoppe "the hop vine"; of Dutch origin
Medical Definition
hop
1 of 2 noun1
: a twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family with 3-lobed or 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in cone-like clusters
2
hops plural
: the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a hop plant used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer and also in medicine as a tonic
HOP
2 of 2 abbreviation
high oxygen pressure
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