hopper

noun

hop·​per ˈhä-pər How to pronounce hopper (audio)
1
a
: one that hops
b
: a leaping insect
specifically : an immature hopping form of an insect (such as a grasshopper or locust)
2
[from the shaking motion of hoppers used to feed grain into a mill]
a
: a usually funnel-shaped receptacle for delivering material (such as grain or coal)
also : any of various other receptacles for the temporary storage of material
b
: a freight car with a floor sloping to one or more hinged doors for discharging bulk materials

called also hopper car

c
: a box in which a bill to be considered by a legislative body is dropped
d
: a tank holding liquid and having a device for releasing its contents through a pipe
e
: a mix of things to be considered or done

Examples of hopper in a Sentence

The company has several new product ideas in the hopper.
Recent Examples on the Web Richard Ambrose, a professor of environmental health sciences at UCLA, said there are animals such as beach hoppers, sand crabs and worms living in the sand that can get crushed by large pieces of debris or even the vehicles removing waste. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Those born between 1981 and 1996 are often thought of as the ‘original’ job hoppers, yet according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, older millennials—those born between 1980 and 1984—held an average of seven jobs by age 28, one less than baby boomers at the same age. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 The culprits here are sucking insects such as leaf hoppers, aphids, thrips, chilli thrips, leaf miners or spider mites. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Future steps may include rovers, attempts to have a craft survive the lunar night, or potentially hoppers that can explore hard-to-reach craters, says Mr. Greenhagen. Mackenzie McCarty, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 For breakfast and lunch, Café Umi offers a wealth of local dishes, such as a vivid array of fresh fruits, yoghurts and pastries for breakfasts and Maldivian tuna curry and hoppers for lunch. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Situated on five lush garden acres, Pineapple Fields Resort is just a 15-minute drive from Governor’s Harbour Airport — ideal for island hoppers flying in from Nassau. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2024 Enlarge / Stoke Space recently conducted a static fire test of its hopper vehicle. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2023 The machine operated in a circle around a central arm, depositing concrete poured into a hopper in one layer after another. Jim Morrison, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hopper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hopper was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hopper

Cite this Entry

“Hopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopper. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hopper

noun
hop·​per ˈhäp-ər How to pronounce hopper (audio)
1
a
: one that hops
b
: a leaping insect
especially : a young hopping form of an insect
2
a
: a usually funnel-shaped container for delivering material (as grain)
b
: a railroad car with a sloping floor and hinged doors

called also hopper car

c
: a tank with a device for releasing its liquid through a pipe

Biographical Definition

Hopper 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Hop·​per ˈhä-pər How to pronounce Hopper (audio)
Edward 1882–1967 American artist

Hopper

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Grace 1906–1992 née Grace Brewster Murray American admiral, mathematician, and computer scientist

Hopper

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

(William) DeWolf 1858–1935 American actor

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