pop
pop — verb
- poppresent simple I / you / we / they
- pops3rd person singular
- popping-ing form
- poppedpast simple
1. to go somewhere for a short time, often quickly or without much planning.
to go somewhere for a short time, often quickly or without much planning.
I'm going to pop to the bakery before the rain starts.
pop + to + place for a quick errand
Maya popped into the post office during her lunch break.
pop into + place
The twins popped round after school to return our ladders.
British-style pop round for a brief visit
Carlos popped over to his aunt's flat with fresh soup.
- pop to the store
- pop into the office
- pop round after work
- pop over to a friend's house
- stay in
phrasal opposite — not go out for the short trip
Grammar Patterns
pop + to + place
pop + into/over/round + place
Usage Note
Usually followed by a place phrase, and often used for small errands or quick social visits. More casual than 'visit' and shorter in feel than simply 'go'.
Common Mistakes
2. to make a quick sharp noise, or to make something break open with that noise.
to make a quick sharp noise, or to make something break open with that noise.
The red balloon popped when Leo sat on it.
something pops when it bursts
Hot oil popped loudly in the pan beside the stove.
Grandpa popped the paper bag to make the baby laugh.
pop + object to cause the sound
Soap bubbles popped one by one in the warm bath.
- balloon pops
- pop a paper bag
- oil pops in the pan
- pop bubble wrap
- stay intact
describes not breaking or bursting
Grammar Patterns
something pops
pop + object
Usage Note
Can be intransitive when the thing itself bursts, or transitive when someone causes the burst. Common subjects and objects include balloons, bubbles, oil, corn, and paper bags.
Common Mistakes
3. when air pressure changes, your ears can click and feel blocked for a moment.
when air pressure changes, your ears can click and feel blocked for a moment.
My ears popped as the plane began to land in Osaka.
ears pop during pressure change
Nina swallowed hard when her ears popped on the mountain road.
The baby's ears popped during the quick drive up the mountain.
Passengers yawned when their ears popped after the train entered the tunnel.
ears pop in tunnels, planes, and mountains
- ears pop on a plane
- ears pop in a tunnel
- ears pop on a mountain road
- block up
describes ears becoming shut rather than releasing
Grammar Patterns
ears pop
Usage Note
Subject is almost always 'ears'. Common situations are flights, tunnels, mountain roads, and other quick changes in height or pressure.
Common Mistakes
4. to appear or come out very suddenly, often from inside something or from a hidde
to appear or come out very suddenly, often from inside something or from a hidden place.
A rabbit popped out of the hedge near the old church.
pop out of + place
Mina popped up from behind the sofa and scared her cousin.
pop up from behind + object
Two firefighters popped out of the smoke carrying a small child.
A text message popped up during the class meeting.
message pops up on a screen
- pop out of the bushes
- pop up on screen
- pop through the door
- appear
more neutral and less sudden in feeling
- emerge
slightly more formal; often slower than 'pop'
- spring out
stresses a quick surprising movement outward
Grammar Patterns
pop + out of/from + place
pop + up
Usage Note
Common particles are 'out', 'up', and 'through'. Distinguish from sense 5: here the subject itself appears suddenly, rather than someone moving an object quickly.
Common Mistakes
5. to put something somewhere or take it out in one quick movement.
to put something somewhere or take it out in one quick movement.
Rosa popped the tickets into her coat pocket before boarding.
pop + object + into + place
Jake popped a mint into his mouth before meeting the clients.
The nurse popped the key back on its hook after lunch.
pop + object + on + place
Maya popped the letter out of her bag and handed it over.
pop + object + out of + place
- pop the keys in your pocket
- pop a mint into your mouth
- pop another log on the fire
- pop a letter out of your bag
Grammar Patterns
pop + object + into/on + place
pop + object + out of + place
Usage Note
Usually takes a small everyday object, followed by a place phrase such as 'into your pocket', 'on the fire', or 'out of the bag'. Distinguish from sense 4 by checking whether a person is moving the object.
Common Mistakes
6. to swallow pills again and again, especially for the drug effect rather than for
to swallow pills again and again, especially for the drug effect rather than for health.
The singer started popping pills after the late-night shows.
pop + pills in informal drug-related use
School friends knew Ben was popping painkillers every morning.
Police found pill bottles by the bed where Evan popped pills every night.
Nadia kept popping diet pills despite her doctor's warning.
kept popping pills for repeated habit
- start popping pills
- keep popping pills
- pop painkillers
- pop diet pills
- abuse pills
clinical phrasing for harmful repeated pill use
- take drugs
broader; not limited to pills
- live on pills
informal; suggests dependence on tablets
Grammar Patterns
pop + pills
Usage Note
Almost always appears with 'pills' or a type of pill. Strongly informal and usually negative, often suggesting harmful or dependent use rather than normal medical treatment.
Common Mistakes
7. to make a lid, cap, seal, or similar part come open very quickly.
to make a lid, cap, seal, or similar part come open very quickly.
Rita popped the metal lid off the paint can.
pop + lid off
Ben popped open the case and showed us the ring.
pop open + object
One twist popped the cap off the sauce bottle.
At the clinic, the nurse popped the seal on a new bottle.
pop the seal on + container
- pop the lid off
- pop open
- pop the cap off
- pop the cork
- pop the seal
Grammar Patterns
pop the lid / cap / cork off
pop something open
pop the seal on something
Usage Note
The object is usually the part that opens, such as a lid, cap, cork, or seal. Distinguish from sense 5, which is about quickly putting or taking something somewhere.
Common Mistakes
8. to catch the eye because it looks bright beside a different colour or background
to catch the eye because it looks bright beside a different colour or background.
The orange safety sign pops against the gray factory wall.
pop against + background
Mina's silver shoes popped under the white stage lights.
The red bench pops beside the pale stone path.
In the ad, the yellow text pops on a dark screen.
pop on + contrasting surface
- pop against black
- pop on screen
- colours pop
- really pop
- make the text pop
- stand out
the closest general alternative
- catch the eye
stresses attracting attention
- shine
can suggest brightness, but not always contrast
Grammar Patterns
colour / design + pops
pop against a background
pop on a dark / pale surface
Usage Note
Often used with against, on, or beside to name the background that makes something look striking. The subject is usually a color, pattern, word, or design feature.
Common Mistakes
9. to flip the collar of a shirt, coat, or jacket upward.
to flip the collar of a shirt, coat, or jacket upward.
Before the rain started, Jonah popped his coat collar.
pop + your collar
Mia popped her denim jacket collar outside the stadium.
In the old film, the spy popped his trench coat collar.
For the class photo, Lena popped her shirt collar.
fashion use in informal speech
- pop your collar
- pop his coat collar
- pop her jacket collar
- popped-up collar
- fold down
move the collar back to its normal flat position
- smooth down
make the collar lie flat neatly
Grammar Patterns
pop your collar
pop the collar of a coat or jacket
Usage Note
The object is almost always collar, usually from a shirt, jacket, or coat. This sense is informal and is mostly used when talking about appearance or style.
Common Mistakes
pop — noun
- popsingular
- popsplural
1. music for a wide audience, often with a clear beat and easy-to-remember tunes.
music for a wide audience, often with a clear beat and easy-to-remember tunes.
Tina plays pop in the cafe before the lunch crowd arrives.
uncountable noun: play pop
My brother writes pop songs on his laptop after school.
collocation: pop songs
The radio station switched from jazz to pop at noon.
At the party, even Grandpa danced when the pop playlist came on.
- pop song
- pop band
- play pop
- pop music
the fuller and more explicit form
- chart music
focuses on songs currently doing well in the charts
- mainstream music
broader and can include styles beyond pop
Grammar Patterns
listen to pop
play pop
pop music
Usage Note
This sense is uncountable, so English normally says 'some pop' or 'a pop song', not 'a pop' when you mean the music itself.
Common Mistakes
2. a quick burst of sound, like a balloon breaking or a cork coming out.
a quick burst of sound, like a balloon breaking or a cork coming out.
A loud pop came from the kitchen when the glass lid cracked.
hear a pop
We heard a pop as Dad opened the juice bottle.
A pop from the back tyre made the whole bus stop.
a pop from [source]
A sharp pop startled Eva during art class when the balloon burst.
- a loud pop
- hear a pop
- pop from the tyre
Grammar Patterns
a pop
hear a pop
with a pop
Usage Note
Often used for a single small explosion or breakage. Distinguish from verb sense 2, where something pops and makes this sound.
3. an informal family word for a person's father.
an informal family word for a person's father.
Pop fixed my bike before I rode to school.
used as a name for father
When dinner was ready, Mia called, 'Pop, wash your hands!'
direct address: Pop
Ben sat beside Pop on the porch after the storm.
Pop promised Liam a fishing trip during the summer break.
- ask Pop
- Pop said
- call Pop
Grammar Patterns
Pop said ...
ask Pop
call someone Pop
Usage Note
Usually spoken inside a family and often capitalized when used like a name. In many contexts, 'dad' is the more neutral everyday choice.
4. a sweet drink full of bubbles, usually without alcohol and often fruit-flavoured
a sweet drink full of bubbles, usually without alcohol and often fruit-flavoured.
The kids shared cold pop and hot dogs after the baseball game.
uncountable noun: drink pop
Grandma keeps orange pop in the fridge for summer visits.
collocation: orange pop
At the picnic, we drank pop from paper cups under the trees.
The diner serves homemade burgers but only canned pop.
- orange pop
- drink pop
- a bottle of pop
- soda
common in many parts of North America
- soft drink
more neutral and widely understood
- soda pop
fuller form of the same idea
Grammar Patterns
drink pop
some pop
a bottle of pop
Usage Note
This regional everyday word is more common in some places than others. Many speakers use 'soda' or 'soft drink' instead.
5. a harsh remark or attack on someone, usually in the pattern 'have a pop at'.
a harsh remark or attack on someone, usually in the pattern 'have a pop at'.
The host took a pop at the mayor during the live interview.
take a pop at someone
One newspaper had a pop at the coach after Saturday's loss.
have a pop at someone
During the meeting, Carla took a pop at Tim's new plan.
Fans online took a pop at the singer after the concert started late.
- have a pop at someone
- take a pop at the plan
- pop at the mayor
Grammar Patterns
have a pop at someone
take a pop at someone
Usage Note
Usually followed by 'at' before the target. The tone is aggressive and sharper than ordinary criticism.
Common Mistakes
6. each single item or each separate time, especially after a price or number.
each single item or each separate time, especially after a price or number.
At the bake sale, cookies were two dollars a pop.
price + a pop
The museum bought old posters for fifty dollars a pop.
The tour boats carried thirty people a pop across the lake.
number + a pop
Festival tickets were eighty dollars a pop before discount week.
- two dollars a pop
- fifty dollars a pop
- thirty people a pop
Grammar Patterns
ten dollars a pop
forty people a pop
three a pop
Usage Note
This expression normally comes after a number or price and stays singular. It is common in informal talk about selling, buying, or counting repeated groups.
Common Mistakes
7. a bright bit of colour or style that makes something plainer look more lively.
a bright bit of colour or style that makes something plainer look more lively.
The black kitchen needed a pop of yellow near the window.
pattern: a pop of + colour
Mia wore red shoes for a pop of colour at the wedding.
common use in clothes and decoration
A bright scarf gave her grey coat a welcome pop.
pattern: give something a pop
One orange chair gave the lobby a pop of colour.
- a pop of colour
- add a pop of colour
- give something a pop
- a pop of red
Grammar Patterns
a pop of + colour
give something a pop of + colour
Usage Note
Most common in design, fashion, and home decoration, especially in the pattern 'a pop of colour'. Distinguish from verb/8, where 'pop' describes something itself looking bright and noticeable.
Common Mistakes
8. extra force that makes a hit, sound, machine, or performance feel strong.
extra force that makes a hit, sound, machine, or performance feel strong.
Even at sixty, Coach Rivera still has plenty of pop in his swing.
pattern: have pop in [a hit or movement]
The old speakers lacked the pop needed for dance music.
pattern: lack pop
After the injury, Naomi's serve lost some of its pop.
pattern: lose pop
The new bat gave Luca's swing more pop during batting practice.
- plenty of pop
- lack pop
- lose pop
- pop in a swing
- weakness
lack of strength or force
Grammar Patterns
have pop
lack pop
lose pop
Usage Note
Often appears with verbs such as 'have', 'lack', and 'lose'. It is common for sports, sound systems, engines, and punches rather than for general social or political power.
Common Mistakes
To criticize or physically attack someone.
Maya took a pop at her brother for breaking her toy.
During the debate, the politician had a pop at his opponent.
…a pop
idiomEach item costs a specific amount.
These cupcakes are two dollars a pop at the bakery.
The tickets for the concert were fifty dollars a pop.
pop — adjective
- poppositive
- poppercomparative
- poppestsuperlative
1. liked by a wide audience and presented in a simple style that most people can fo
liked by a wide audience and presented in a simple style that most people can follow.
The station plays pop songs during the morning drive to work.
collocation: pop songs
Maya bought a pop history book before the long train ride.
usually before a noun
The website posts pop science videos for children after school.
collocation: pop science
The bookstore placed pop psychology books beside serious research titles.
collocation: pop psychology
The magazine mixes pop culture news with simple film reviews.
collocation: pop culture
- pop song
- pop video
- pop culture
- pop science
- pop history
- popular
broader and much more common, especially after a linking verb
- mainstream
stresses acceptance by the general public
- accessible
focuses more on being easy to understand
- niche
aimed at a small special group
- experimental
tries unusual ideas rather than pleasing a wide audience
Grammar Patterns
pop song
pop video
pop culture
pop science
Usage Note
Usually placed before nouns for music, books, media, or ideas aimed at a broad audience. It often suggests something made easy to take in, not necessarily something deeply serious or original.
Common Mistakes
pop — abbreviation
1. short written form of 'population', mainly used in charts, maps, and similar spa
short written form of 'population', mainly used in charts, maps, and similar space-saving notes.
The chart listed a pop. of 48,000 for the mountain town.
abbreviation in charts and tables
A census note showed village pop. falling after the factory closed.
The map gave each island's pop. beside its name in small type.
abbreviation on maps
In the county report, city pop. growth was highest near the coast.
collocation: city pop. / pop. growth
- city pop.
- rural pop.
- pop. growth
- pop. density
- population
the full word; used in normal writing and speech instead of the short form
Usage Note
Usually seen in charts, maps, tables, and statistical notes, not in ordinary running sentences. In normal speech and most full prose, people use the full word 'population'.
Common Mistakes
2. short written form of 'point of purchase', used for store signs and displays nea
short written form of 'point of purchase', used for store signs and displays near where shoppers buy or pay.
The manager moved the POP display beside the checkout before lunch.
collocation: POP display
Our team printed new POP signs for the snack shelf.
collocation: POP sign
Mina designed a bright POP stand for the new shampoo.
The store uses POP cards to show this week's sale price.
collocation: POP card
- POP display
- POP sign
- POP stand
- POP card
- point of sale
close business term, but it more often focuses on the seller's side or the checkout system
- in-store display
names the physical display itself rather than the broader retail label
Usage Note
Usually written in capitals and most often used before nouns such as 'display', 'sign', 'stand', and 'card'. It is a retail or marketing label, not a term most shoppers use in everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
pop — adverb
1. used like a sound effect to show a small burst or a sudden change in one instant
used like a sound effect to show a small burst or a sudden change in one instant.
At midnight, pop went the cork from the wedding bottle.
pop went + noun
The old light bulb went pop above the sink at breakfast.
go pop
On the windowsill, the soap bubble went pop in the sun.
When Ava pulled the tab, pop went the seal on the juice carton.
pop went + noun after action
As the trick began, pop came a rabbit from the black hat.
pop came + noun in playful storytelling
- go pop
- pop went the cork
- pop went the seal
- light bulb went pop
- suddenly
neutral and much more common, without the sound effect
- all at once
stresses that the change happens in one instant
- with a bang
suggests a louder and heavier noise than 'pop'
Grammar Patterns
go pop
pop went + noun
pop came + noun
Usage Note
Rare and playful in modern English. It often imitates the sound inside story-like patterns such as 'pop went the cork' or after 'go', as in 'the bulb went pop'. Distinguish from verb senses 2 and 4, where 'pop' names the action itself rather than the manner of it happening.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- popularadjectiveA2
- popularitynounB1
- popularizeverbC2
- popularizationnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For noun/1, pop names a music style known for catchy tunes, a clear beat, and wide audience appeal. Chart music is not exactly the same: it means songs that are doing well in the charts right now, so a rap, country, or dance hit can be chart music without being pop in style. Mainstream music is broader still and focuses on general public taste rather than one genre. Dance music usually puts more weight on club rhythm and continuous beat. Rock often sounds heavier or more guitar-led than pop. So a singer may release a pop album, a club DJ may play dance music, and a loud guitar band may still be outside pop even if one song becomes chart music.
Etymology
Modern English pop brings together several histories. Many of the verb, noun, and adverb senses go back to a late Middle English sound-imitating word for a short sharp burst or strike; that sound-based origin helps explain meanings such as bursting, sudden movement, and a quick bright effect. The music and mass-audience adjective senses are later shortenings of popular and popular music. The family word pop meaning 'father' is a separate shortening of poppa, related to papa. The modern abbreviations POP for population and point of purchase are later English shortenings again, not part of the older sound word.
First known use
15th century
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (1)