hopping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, neutral (depending on context). The verb form is common; the adjective form (as in '-hopping') is informal.
Quick answer
What does “hopping” mean?
The action of jumping lightly on one foot or repeatedly on both feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of jumping lightly on one foot or repeatedly on both feet; moving by a series of short jumps.
Moving quickly or energetically between places, activities, or states. In business/informal contexts, rapidly switching jobs, services, or products. Also used as a suffix indicating great intensity or activity (e.g., 'hopping mad').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning. Adjective forms like 'hopping mad' are slightly more common in British English. 'Hopping' to mean 'very' (e.g., 'hopping busy') is informal in both, but perhaps more entrenched in BrE.
Connotations
Similar in both. Lightness, repetitiveness, informality.
Frequency
Fairly even frequency. The verb is common; compound forms like 'job-hopping' are modern and widely understood.
Grammar
How to Use “hopping” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] be hopping (PRED) (e.g., The bar was hopping)[SUBJ] be hopping mad/angry[SUBJ] go hopping (from PLACE to PLACE)[SUBJ] spend time hopping between/among (PLACES/ACTIVITIES)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hopping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children were happily hopping about in the playground.
- We spent the afternoon hopping from one pub to the next.
American English
- The rabbit was hopping across the lawn.
- He's been job-hopping every year to increase his salary.
adjective
British English
- She was absolutely hopping mad when she saw the mess.
- The high street was hopping with shoppers on Saturday.
American English
- The new downtown bar is always hopping on weekends.
- He's got a hopping schedule with back-to-back meetings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informally used in 'job-hopping' (frequent job changes), seen as both a positive (adaptable) and negative (disloyal) trait.
Academic
Rare; might appear in informal student contexts or metaphorical descriptions of rapid switching in fields like biology or computing.
Everyday
Very common: describing children's play, rabbit movement, lively parties, or quickly visiting multiple shops.
Technical
In networking/IT: 'packet hopping' or 'channel hopping'. In travel: 'island-hopping'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hopping”
- Using 'hopping' to mean 'dancing' (incorrect). Confusing 'hopping' (repetitive jumps) with 'jumping' (a single, possibly powerful, leap). Overusing the '-hopping' compound for any switching (e.g., 'idea-hopping' is less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core meaning is physical jumping, it's often used metaphorically (e.g., job-hopping, a hopping party) to mean energetic activity or rapid switching.
'Hopping' is usually on one foot or a series of small, quick jumps. 'Jumping' is more general and can be a big, two-footed leap. 'Skipping' is a light, bouncing step, often with a hop on one foot between steps.
It depends. It can show adaptability and a wide range of experience, but frequent job changes (e.g., less than 2 years per job) may be seen as a lack of commitment or stability.
Yes, but it's a cliché and somewhat childish. More natural phrases are 'jumping for joy' or simply 'I was overjoyed'. 'Hopping' alone doesn't strongly convey joy without the full idiom.
The action of jumping lightly on one foot or repeatedly on both feet.
Hopping is usually informal, neutral (depending on context). the verb form is common; the adjective form (as in '-hopping') is informal. in register.
Hopping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.pɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hopping mad (very angry)”
- “be hopping (be very busy/lively)”
- “island-hopping (travel between islands)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOPscotch game: you're HOPPING from square to square. Both words share 'HOP'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS JUMPING (hopping between ideas). CHANGE IS MOVEMENT (job-hopping). INTENSITY IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (hopping mad).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The new tech hub is absolutely hopping,' what does 'hopping' most likely mean?