third-person singular verb
Bursts suddenly, often with a short, sharp sound, or makes something burst this way.
The popcorn pops in the microwave.
The balloon pops when you prick it.
American English
How to pronounce pops
verb · nounB1Common word
PAHPS
/pʰɑps/
One syllable.
Form of pop
Bursts suddenly, often with a short, sharp sound, or makes something burst this way.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
third-person singular verb
Goes somewhere or visits someone for a short time, often without planning.
She pops by after work.
He pops into the store on his way home.
third-person singular verb
Puts something somewhere quickly or casually.
She pops the leftovers in the fridge.
He pops his coat on before going outside.
third-person singular verb
Appears suddenly or unexpectedly, often on a screen.
A warning pops up on my screen.
His name pops up in the search results.
Useful expressions
to visit briefly
I’ll pop in after lunch.
to appear suddenly
A warning popped up on my screen.
to ask someone to marry you
He popped the question during dinner.
Related words & forms
The final p is doubled before -ed and -ing: popped, popping.