popularity
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the state of being liked or supported by a lot of people.
the condition of being widely admired, accepted, or enjoyed by the general public or a specific group.
Simple“The new video game gained popularity very quickly among teenagers.”
In context“The sudden surge in the candidate's popularity can be attributed to her recent policy shift regarding urban infrastructure and public transport.”
UsageUsually uncountable; often used with the verbs 'gain', 'lose', or 'increase'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
the general feeling or opinion of the public.
the state of public sentiment or general passion regarding a specific topic or person.
Simple“In the old story, the king feared the popularity of the angry crowd.”
In context“The historian noted that the popularity of the movement was driven more by desperation than by a coherent political ideology.”
UsageFound primarily in historical texts or formal literature to describe the mood of the masses.
Synonymspublic opinionsentiment
From popular + -ity, from Latin popularitas (“an effort to please the people”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.