What does "pop" mean?
A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle, especially when the contents are pressurized by fizziness.
Pop
/pɑp/ adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle, especially when the contents are pressurized by fizziness.
- Grammar: pop is listed as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: dad, papa, pop music, soda.
- Useful contrasts: calm, ceilidh, classical music.
- Usage evidence: Pop artists thrive on the adulation of their loyal fans.
How to use "pop"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pop" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pop" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pop" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pop" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pop" is acting as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dad" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pop", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle, especially when the contents are pressurized by fizziness. countable
"Listen to the pop of a champagne cork."
- 2 One's father. colloquial, endearing
"My pop used to tell me to do my homework every night."
- 3 Pop music. uncountable
- 4 Population. uncountable
"GUNNISON 35.5m. (153 alt., 484 pop.), is larger than the usual plantation town, having several stores instead of one."
- 5 A Russian Orthodox parish priest. uncommon
"There was at that time in the house of the Consul a Pop (or Russian Priest) named Iwan Afanassich."
Show 29 more definitions
- 6 Acronym of persistent organic pollutant. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable
"One commonly used POP (persistent organic pollutant), organochlorine, may be responsible for contaminating the world's seafood supply, since pesticides can run off the land into streams, lakes, and reservoirs."
- 7 A social club and debating society at Eton College.
- 8 A popular classical music concert. also, plural
"As to the tall, curly-haired man, I suppose it was the one who was with me at the last Pop."
- 9 Initialism of proof of personhood. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 10 music of general appeal to teenagers; a bland watered-down version of rock'n'roll with more rhythm and harmony and an emphasis on romantic love wordnet
- 11 An effervescent or fizzy drink, most frequently nonalcoholic; soda pop. Canada, Inland-Northern-American, Midlands, Midwestern-US, Northern-England, Northwestern, Pennsylvania, US, Western, regional, uncountable
"Lunch was sandwiches and a bottle of pop."
- 12 Acronym of picture outside of picture. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 13 The body of college prefects.
- 14 Initialism of package on a package. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 15 a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork wordnet
- 16 A bottle, can, or serving of effervescent or fizzy drink, most frequently nonalcoholic; a soda pop. Canada, Inland-Northern-American, Midwestern-US, Northwestern, Pennsylvania, US, Western, countable, regional
"Go in the store and buy us three pops."
- 17 Acronym of point of presence. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable
- 18 a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring wordnet
- 19 A pop shot: a quick, possibly unaimed, shot with a firearm. countable, uncountable
"The man with the gun took a pop at the rabbit."
- 20 Acronym of Point of Purchase. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable
- 21 an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk wordnet
- 22 A quantity dispensed; a portion; apiece. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"They cost 50 pence a pop."
- 23 Acronym of probability of precipitation. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 24 Something that stands out or is distinctive to the mind or senses. countable, uncountable
"a white dress with a pop of red"
- 25 Acronym of progestogen-only pill or progestin-only pill. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable
- 26 The removal of a data item from the top of a stack. countable, uncountable
"Pushes and pops change the stack; indexing just accesses it."
- 27 A bird, the European redwing. countable, uncountable
- 28 The sixth derivative of the position vector with respect to time (after velocity, acceleration, jerk, jounce, crackle), i.e. the rate of change of crackle. countable, uncountable
- 29 A pistol. countable, dated, slang, uncountable
"And then I got a shock, for a couple of ragged patriots standing close by, leaned over as Elliot moved, their eyes shining viciously, and quick as winking out came their pops, and I saw them ready and willing, yes, darned anxious to shoot."
- 30 A small, immature peanut, boiled as a snack. US, countable, plural, uncountable
"Immature peanuts, called "pops," are often included when the peanuts are boiled at home […]"
- 31 Ellipsis of freeze pop. abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"Although they go by many names across the world freezer pop, ice-pole, pop stick icy-pole ice pop, tip top and ice candy but in the hoods of America they are known and respected as Freeze Pops. The pops are made by freezing flavored liquid such as sugar water, Kool-Aid or some form of fruit juice or purée inside a plastic tube - at least the kinds we ate."
- 32 A lollipop. colloquial, countable, uncountable
- 33 A (usually very) loud audience reaction. countable, slang, uncountable
- 34 The pulling of a string away from the fretboard and releasing it so that it snaps back. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound. intransitive
"The muskets popped away on all sides."
- 2 burst open with a sharp, explosive sound wordnet
- 3 To burst (something) with a popping sound. ergative
"The boy with the pin popped the balloon."
- 4 cause to burst with a loud, explosive sound wordnet
- 5 To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden movement; to move from place to place suddenly; to dart. intransitive, usually
"A rabbit popped out of the hole."
Show 28 more definitions
- 6 fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise wordnet
- 7 To place (something) (somewhere); to move or position (something) with a short movement. Australia, UK, transitive
"Just pop it in the fridge for now."
- 8 take drugs, especially orally wordnet
- 9 To make a short trip or visit. intransitive, often, usually
"I'm just popping round to the newsagent."
- 10 drink down entirely wordnet
- 11 To stand out; to be distinctive to the senses. intransitive
"This colour really pops."
- 12 hit or strike wordnet
- 13 To hit (something or someone). transitive
"He popped me on the nose."
- 14 hit a pop-fly wordnet
- 15 To shoot (usually somebody) with a firearm. slang, transitive
- 16 release suddenly wordnet
- 17 To ejaculate; to orgasm. intransitive, slang, vulgar
"Ah concur wi Sharon’s wishes n fuck her in the fanny. […] Ah think aboot how close she is tae poppin and how far up ah am, […]"
- 18 put or thrust suddenly and forcefully wordnet
- 19 To remove (a data item) from the top of a stack. transitive
"Once the callee (the called function) terminates, it cleans the stack that it has been locally using and pops the next value stored on top of the stack."
- 20 bulge outward wordnet
- 21 To give birth. intransitive, slang
"Well, dear. You're ready to pop, aren't you? Little one's on its way."
- 22 appear suddenly or unexpectedly; happen unexpectedly wordnet
- 23 To sexually penetrate.
"A lot of Black men are deluding themselves into thinking they're not homosexual or bisexual, even though they are having sex with other men. They're not 'gay,' but sure, they've 'popped some sissies.'"
- 24 make a sharp explosive noise wordnet
- 25 To pawn (something) (to raise money). slang, transitive
"I had to pop my watch to see me through until pay-day."
- 26 cause to make a sharp explosive sound wordnet
- 27 To swallow or consume (especially a tablet of a drug, sometimes extended to other small items such as sweets or candy). slang, transitive
"We were drinking beer and popping pills — some really strong downers. I could hardly walk and I had no idea what I was saying."
- 28 To perform (a move or stunt) while riding a board or vehicle. informal, transitive
"Pop a U-turn. You missed the turnoff."
- 29 To undergo equalization of pressure when the Eustachian tubes open. intransitive
"My ears popped as the aeroplane began to ascend."
- 30 To perform the popping style of dance.
"Let the poppers pop and the breakers break / We're cool, cool cats, it's like that"
- 31 To arrest. slang, transitive
"He's on probation. We can pop him right now for gang association."
- 32 To pull a string away from the fretboard and release it so that it snaps back.
- 33 To occur or happen. slang
"What's popping?"
Adjective
- 1 Popular. attributive, not-comparable
- 2 Acronym of post office preferred, denoting a standard envelope size. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 (of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people) wordnet
Adverb
- 1 like a pop or with a pop wordnet
Intj
- 1 A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.
"Pop, would go one of the eight-inch guns; a small flame would dart and vanish, a little white smoke would disappear, a tiny projectile would give a feeble screech - and nothing happened."
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of Pacific Ocean Park. abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism
"The parachutes at Riverview Park will shake us up all day / And Disneyland and P.O.P. is worth a trip to L.A"
- 2 Traditional nickname for a stage doorman. US, colloquial
"“All the other stars would leave the theatre wearing fur coats, fancy hats, and imported French shoes,” said Pop Stern, a longtime stage-doorman."
- 3 Acronym of Post Office Protocol. Internet, abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
Example
"Pop artists thrive on the adulation of their loyal fans."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pop"?
Common synonyms include: dad, papa, pop music, soda, abba, abruptly.
How do you use "pop" in a sentence?
Pop artists thrive on the adulation of their loyal fans.
How do you pronounce "pop"?
Pronounced /pɑp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English pop, poppe (“a blow; strike; buffet”) (> Middle English poppen (“to strike; thrust”, verb)), of onomatopoeic origin – used to describe the sound, or short, sharp actions. The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.
Etymology 2
From papa or poppa.
Etymology 3
Clipping of popular.
Etymology 4
Clipping of population.
Etymology 5
From colloquial Russian поп (pop) and Попъ (Pop), from Old Church Slavonic попъ (popŭ), from Byzantine Greek πάπας (pápas) (see pope). Doublet of pope.
Etymology 6
Uncertain. The OED suggests either from (lolli)pop ("because the meetings were held in the rooms of Mrs Hatton, who kept the lollipop shop"), or from Latin popīna (“cookshop”). The second sense derives from the first.
Etymology 7
Shortened from popular (concert).
Etymology 8
From pop (“father”).