ENGLISH
REFERENCE

popular

adj.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈpɑpjəɫɝ// UK //pˈɒpjʊlɐ// pop·u·lar Archaic General-service

adj. liked or enjoyed by many people. You use this to describe someone or something that is famous or has many friends.

adj. liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people or by a particular person or group. Also used to describe things that are intended for or suited to the taste of ordinary people rather than specialists.


SIMPLE

Football is a very popular sport in many countries.

CONTEXTUAL

The new teacher became popular with the students because she made the lessons fun and easy to understand.

COMPLEX

While the policy was initially popular among the electorate, its long-term economic consequences led to a sharp decline in the administration's approval ratings.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English populer, from Old French populaire and Latin populāris, from populus (“people”) + -āris (“-ar”).

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

Pitfall

He is very popular for his friends.He is very popular with his friends.When describing who likes a person or thing, use the preposition 'with' rather than 'for'.

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