English Reference

Word

popping

Phoneticspop·ping

US/ˈpɑpɪŋ/

UK/pˈɒpɪŋ/

Definitions

01a sharp sound

B2

n. a short, sharp sound like a small explosion.

n. the production of a sudden, sharp, explosive sound.

“We heard a strange popping sound coming from the old radiator.”

“The rhythmic popping of the logs in the fireplace provided a comforting soundtrack to the quiet winter evening.”

03bursting or appearing

B1

v. the act of bursting, appearing suddenly, or going somewhere quickly.

v. the present participle of 'pop', used to describe sudden appearance, bursting, or rapid movement.

“New shops are popping up all over the city center lately.”

“The bubbles were popping as soon as they reached the surface of the boiling water, releasing small clouds of steam into the air.”

Real-World Examples

“In recent weeks, the vegetable has been popping up all over social media in sweet treat form - as an ingredient in everything from cookies and ice cream to cheesecake.”
BBC News · 29 Aug 2026
“The 21-year-old disappeared in May 2025 after popping to the local shop.”
BBC News · 19 Aug 2026

Word family

popVerbpoppingNoun

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/popping

English Reference