1 A2 informal
To climb quickly and lightly onto a surface or raised place.
"The child hopped up onto the kitchen counter to reach the biscuit tin."
hop up
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To climb quickly onto a surface; or to stimulate or modify something for greater performance.
In plain English
Quickly climb up onto something; OR make a car or engine more powerful; OR make someone more energetic (often with stimulants).
What does "hop up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To modify a vehicle or engine to increase its speed or power.
"He spent the whole summer hopping up his old Mustang in the garage."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
To make someone excited, agitated, or energetic, typically through a stimulating substance.
"She was hopped up on three espressos and couldn't sit still during the meeting."
“
He's hopped up on morphine.
— Breaking Bad, Season 1 (AMC, 2008)
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To jump upward onto something.
Actually means
Quickly climb up onto something; OR make a car or engine more powerful; OR make someone more energetic (often with stimulants).
Usage tip
Has three distinct uses: (1) physical movement onto a surface; (2) modifying a vehicle engine for more power (American automotive slang); (3) stimulating someone with a substance. Sense 3 often appears in passive: 'hopped up on coffee/drugs.'
Words that pair with "hop up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
engine car caffeine table counter drugs
How to conjugate "hop up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hop up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hops up
he/she/it
Past simple
hoped up
yesterday
Past participle
hoped up
have + pp
-ing form
hoping up
continuous
Hear "hop up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hop up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "hop up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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