# choppy

/ˈtʃɑpi/ (US) · /tʃˈɒpi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/choppy
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.