Definitions
01liked by many
A1 · Beginner
adj. liked, enjoyed, or supported by many people.
adj. widely liked, admired, or enjoyed by a large number of people.
“The new Italian restaurant is very popular with local families on weekends.”
“The senator remained remarkably popular among rural voters despite the controversial economic reforms introduced during her first term.”
Pitfall
He is popular for his classmates.
He is popular with his classmates.
Use 'with' or 'among' to describe the group of people who like someone.
02for the general public
B1 · Intermediate
adj. intended for or used by ordinary people rather than experts or specialists.
adj. designed for or adapted to the understanding, taste, or means of the general public.
“He writes books about popular science that are easy for everyone to understand.”
“The magazine successfully bridged the gap between academic research and popular interest in archaeology.”
Antonyms
03common or widespread
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. held or accepted by most people.
adj. commonly held or widely prevalent among the general population.
“Contrary to popular belief, carrots do not actually help you see in the dark.”
“The popular conception of the historical figure was largely shaped by a fictionalised film released in the late nineties.”
Synonyms
04of the people
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
adj. relating to the people of a country, especially regarding politics or law.
adj. pertaining to, or originating from, the general body of people within a political or legal framework.
“The country held a popular vote to decide on the new law.”
“The uprising was seen as a genuine expression of popular sovereignty against an increasingly autocratic regime.”
05a liked person
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Informal · Slang
n. a person who is very well-liked, especially in a school or social group.
n. an individual who enjoys high social status or widespread approval within a specific peer group.
“She was one of the populars in high school, always surrounded by friends.”
“The social hierarchy of the office was clearly divided between the management and the 'populars' who organised every after-work event.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural form when referring to a social clique.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “popular” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Pumpkin spice is popular among consumers.” “In“KPop Demon Hunters”—an animated film which has become Netflix’s most popular movie ever—the fictional musicians ravenously slurp down the spicy instant noodles.” Etymology
From Middle English populer, from Old French populaire and Latin populāris, from populus (“people”) + -āris (“-ar”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/popular
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0