plop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “plop” mean?
A soft, damp, hollow sound of an object dropping into water or onto a soft surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft, damp, hollow sound of an object dropping into water or onto a soft surface.
The act of dropping something heavily or carelessly; to fall or drop with such a sound; used informally to mean to sit or settle down heavily; the onomatopoeic word itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Slightly more prevalent in British children's literature and comic sounds.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of informality and slight clumsiness. In both, it can imply a satisfying or comical sound.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both varieties, used for specific descriptive effect.
Grammar
How to Use “plop” in a Sentence
[Noun] plopped [Prepositional Phrase: into/onto/down][Noun] fell with a plopVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “plop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The stone plopped into the pond.
- He just plopped himself in front of the telly.
American English
- The frog plopped back into the swamp.
- She plopped the groceries onto the counter.
adverb
British English
- It fell plop into the middle.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- The egg landed plop in the frying pan.
- (Rare usage)
adjective
British English
- It made a plop sound.
- A plop noise disturbed the silence.
American English
- We heard a plop sound from the kitchen.
- The comic book showed 'PLOP!' in a bubble.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis or phonetics (as an onomatopoeic example).
Everyday
Used for descriptive, often humorous effect when describing sounds of dropping, sitting, or objects hitting water.
Technical
Used in sound design/foley work to label a specific sound effect.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plop”
- Using 'plop' for a hard, dry sound (use 'thud').
- Overusing in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a real word classified as onomatopoeia. It is recorded in dictionaries and functions as a noun, verb, and adverb.
It is generally considered informal and onomatopoeic. Its use in formal academic or business writing is rare and usually for specific stylistic effect.
'Plop' describes a softer, more contained, often singular sound of an object entering a liquid or landing softly. 'Splash' implies a more vigorous, wetter, and often broader dispersal of liquid.
It is typically transitive or intransitive and followed by prepositions like 'into', 'onto', or 'down'. E.g., 'She plopped the bag down.' / 'The fish plopped back into the river.'
A soft, damp, hollow sound of an object dropping into water or onto a soft surface.
Plop: in British English it is pronounced /plɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /plɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “plop and drop (informal, humorous for sitting heavily)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PEbble drOPping into water: PL...OP. The word sounds like the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS MOVEMENT (The sound 'plop' metaphorically contains the arc and impact of the falling object).
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes a 'plop' sound?