1 A2 neutral
To move around with light, quick jumps, as a bird or small animal does
"A little robin was hopping about on the lawn, searching for worms."
inseparable
hop about
A2 informal inseparable intransitive
To move around with quick, light jumps or to move busily from place to place
In plain English
Jump around lightly, or keep moving quickly from one place to another
What does "hop about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 informal
To move restlessly or busily from place to place or task to task
"The children were hopping about excitedly, unable to sit still before the show started."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To repeatedly jump in small, light hops while moving from one spot to another
Actually means
Jump around lightly, or keep moving quickly from one place to another
Usage tip
Often used of birds, rabbits, or children. Figuratively, can describe someone who moves quickly and restlessly between tasks, places, or topics. 'Hop around' is an equivalent variant. More common in British English.
Words that pair with "hop about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bird rabbit child excitedly nervously sparrow
How to conjugate "hop about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hop about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hops about
he/she/it
Past simple
hoped about
yesterday
Past participle
hoped about
have + pp
-ing form
hoping about
continuous
Hear "hop about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hop about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "hop about"
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Keep exploring
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