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
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
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Verb
The bed and passenger sides were cordoned off, but the driver-side door was open so shoppers could hop in and check out the interior.—
Eric Bangeman,
ArsTechnica,
20 Oct. 2026 That changed in spring, when Sequoia partner Andrew Reed connected with Belosic and quickly hopped a plane from San Francisco to Reno.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2026
Noun
From the Bay Area, hop on Interstate 80 East and connect directly to CA-29 North.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2026 Cole Sulser came in for Tampa Bay and induced a 5-4 fielder’s choice, with a stellar play by Caminero to field the ball on a short-hop to end the threat and send the game to the 9th inning.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hop
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English hoppen, from Old English hoppian
Noun (2)
Middle English hoppe, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German hopfo hop
: 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