Word
choppy
Phoneticschop·py, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtʃɑpi/
UK/tʃˈɒpi/
Definition
adj. having short, uneven parts or moving in a rough, bumpy way. You use this to describe things like waves, roads, or even a person's speech.
adj. consisting of short, uneven, or broken parts; characterized by a lack of smoothness or continuity. Often describes physical surfaces, movements, or speech patterns.
Examples
“The waves were very choppy during the storm.”
“The old road was so choppy that the car vibrated constantly as we drove over the potholes.”
“Her speech was choppy and hesitant, suggesting she was either nervous or had not prepared her notes properly for the presentation.”
Examples
simple
“The waves were very choppy during the storm.”
contextual
“The old road was so choppy that the car vibrated constantly as we drove over the potholes.”
complex
“Her speech was choppy and hesitant, suggesting she was either nervous or had not prepared her notes properly for the presentation.”
Real-World Examples
“A young man was swimming at the beauty spot when a powerful wave swept him out into the choppy sea.” “Last year in the gusty, choppy conditions typical of a San Francisco summer, three AC45s went daggerboards up over a four-day practice period.” Etymology
From chop + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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