Pop vs. Plop — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 2, 2024
Pop is a sharp, sudden sound or action, while plop is associated with a soft sound made by something hitting a liquid surface.
Difference Between Pop and Plop
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pop is characterized by a sharp, sudden noise or action, often resulting from the burst of a bubble or the opening of a pressurized container. On the other hand, plop describes the sound or action of an object falling into a liquid, creating a soft, yet distinctive sound. This difference highlights how each term evokes a unique auditory and situational response.
While pop can be used to describe a wide range of quick, explosive sounds, from popping corn to the sound of a balloon bursting, plop specifically refers to the action and sound of an object gently dropping into water or another liquid, suggesting a slower, less forceful motion.
Pop also finds its use in various cultural contexts, such as pop music or pop art, signifying something popular or mainstream. Whereas, plop is rarely used beyond its direct association with the specific sound or action, keeping its application more literal and narrowly focused.
In terms of physical actions, to pop something often means to cause it to burst or to make a sudden, sharp sound. Meanwhile, to plop something down typically involves placing or dropping it heavily and carelessly, emphasizing a lack of precision or delicacy.
Furthermore, pop can express sudden appearance or occurrence, as in something popping into one’s head, highlighting an element of surprise or spontaneity. Plop, in contrast, is seldom used metaphorically, maintaining its concrete connection to the physical action it describes.
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Comparison Chart
Sound Characteristic
Sharp, sudden
Soft, indicative of hitting liquid
Usage Context
Wide range (sounds, music, culture)
Narrow (specifically related to liquid interaction)
Action Connotation
Explosive, bursting, opening
Gently falling, dropping into liquid
Cultural Relevance
High (pop culture, pop music)
Low (limited to literal sound/action description)
Metaphorical Use
Common (ideas popping up)
Rare (mostly literal)
Compare with Definitions
Pop
A sudden, sharp sound.
The balloon gave a loud pop.
Plop
A soft sound of something hitting liquid.
A raindrop plopped into the puddle.
Pop
Bursting open.
The popcorn began to pop in the microwave.
Plop
To fall or drop with such a sound.
The stone plopped into the pond.
Pop
Popular culture/music.
She loves listening to pop music.
Plop
To sit or lie down heavily.
He plopped down on the sofa after work.
Pop
To appear suddenly.
An idea just popped into my head.
Plop
To place or drop carelessly.
She plopped the groceries on the kitchen counter.
Pop
To remove or cause to burst.
He popped the cork of the champagne bottle.
Plop
To cause to make a plop sound.
He plopped the pebbles into the stream one by one.
Pop
To make a short, sharp, explosive sound.
Plop
To fall with a sound like that of an object falling into water without splashing.
Pop
To burst open with a short, sharp, explosive sound.
Plop
To let the body drop heavily
Exhausted, I plopped into the armchair.
Pop
To move quickly or unexpectedly; appear abruptly
At last the cottage popped into view.
Plop
To drop or set heavily
Plopped the child into the stroller.
Pop
To open wide suddenly
The child's eyes popped with astonishment.
Plop
A plopping sound or movement.
Pop
To have the eustachian tubes open suddenly, equalizing pressure on both sides of the eardrum in response to changes in atmospheric pressure, as in a descending airplane
After I swallowed, my ears popped.
Plop
(countable) A sound or action like liquid hitting a hard surface, or an object falling into a body of water.
He heard the plops of rain on the roof.
Pop
(Baseball) To hit a short high fly ball, especially one that can be caught by an infielder
Popped out to shortstop.
Plop
Excrement.
Pop
To shoot a firearm, such as a pistol.
Plop
To make the sound of an object dropping into a body of liquid.
Pop
To be exciting
A club that really pops at night.
Plop
(ambitransitive) To land heavily or loosely.
He plopped down on the sofa to watch TV.
Pop
To be visually striking
A logo that really pops.
Plop
(British) To defecate.
Pop
To cause to make a sharp bursting sound.
Plop
Indicating the sound of something plopping.
Pop
To cause to open with a sharp bursting sound
Popped the hood of the car to check the oil.
Plop
To fall, drop, or move in any way, with a sudden splash or slap, as on the surface of water.
The body plopped up, turning on its side.
Pop
To cause to explode with a sharp bursting sound
Popped the balloon.
Plop
Act of plopping; the sound made in plopping.
Pop
To put or thrust suddenly or unexpectedly
"popping a crisp plump shrimp into her mouth" (Kathleen Winsor).
Plop
The noise of a rounded object dropping into a liquid without a splash
Pop
To discharge (a firearm).
Plop
Drop something with a plopping sound
Pop
To fire at; shoot.
Plop
Drop with the sound of something falling into water
Pop
To hit or strike
Popped me on the head.
Plop
Set (something or oneself) down with or as if with a noise;
He planked the money on the table
He planked himself into the sofa
Pop
(Baseball) To hit (a ball) high in the air but not far.
Plop
With a short hollow thud;
Plop came the ball down to the corner of the green
Pop
To release (a clutch) suddenly.
Pop
To take (drugs), especially orally
"To calm a case of the jitters ... the bride popped Valium" (People).
Pop
To have (a drink)
Popped a few beers after work.
Pop
(Slang) To take into legal custody; arrest
"Her friend was visiting and got popped for a DUI while he was driving her car" (Jamie Harrison).
Pop
A sudden sharp, explosive sound.
Pop
A shot with a firearm.
Pop
Chiefly Midwestern US See soft drink. See Note at tonic.
Pop
(Baseball) A pop fly.
Pop
Father.
Pop
Popular music.
Pop
Pop art.
Pop
With a popping sound.
Pop
Abruptly or unexpectedly.
Pop
Of or for the general public; popular or popularized
Pop culture.
Pop psychology.
Pop
Of, relating to, or specializing in popular music
A pop singer.
Pop
Of or suggestive of pop art
A pop style.
Pop
(countable) A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.
Listen to the pop of a champagne cork.
Pop
An effervescent or fizzy drink, most frequently nonalcoholic; soda pop.
Lunch was sandwiches and a bottle of pop.
Pop
A bottle, can, or serving of effervescent or fizzy drink, most frequently nonalcoholic; a soda pop.
Go in the store and buy us three pops.
Pop
A pop shot: a quick, possibly unaimed, shot with a firearm.
The man with the gun took a pop at the rabbit.
Pop
A quantity dispensed; a portion; apiece.
They cost 50 pence a pop.
Pop
Something that stands out or is distinctive to the mind or senses.
A white dress with a pop of red
A pop of vanilla flavour
Pop
(computing) The removal of a data item from the top of a stack.
Pop
A bird, the European redwing.
Pop
(physics) The sixth derivative of the position vector with respect to time (after velocity, acceleration, jerk, jounce, crackle), i.e. the rate of change of crackle.
Pop
A pistol.
Pop
A small, immature peanut, boiled as a snack.
Pop
(colloquial) freeze pop
Pop
A (usually very) loud audience reaction.
Pop
One's father.
My pop used to tell me to do my homework every night.
Pop
Pop music.
Pop
A Russian Orthodox priest; a parson.
Pop
(intransitive) To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound.
The muskets popped away on all sides.
Pop
(ergative) To burst (something) with a popping sound.
The boy with the pin popped the balloon.
This corn pops well.
Pop
To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden movement; to move from place to place suddenly; to dart.
A rabbit popped out of the hole.
Pop
To place (something) (somewhere); to move or position (something) with a short movement.
Just pop it in the fridge for now.
He popped his head around the door.
Pop
To make a short trip or visit.
I'm just popping round to the newsagent.
I'll pop by your place later today.
Pop
(intransitive) To stand out; to be distinctive to the senses.
This colour really pops.
Pop
(transitive) To hit (something or someone).
He popped me on the nose.
Pop
To shoot (usually somebody) with a firearm.
Pop
To ejaculate; to orgasm.
Pop
To remove (a data item) from the top of a stack.
Pop
To give birth.
Pop
To pawn (something) (to raise money).
I had to pop my watch to see me through until pay-day.
Pop
To swallow or consume (especially a tablet of a drug, sometimes extended to other small items such as sweets or candy).
Pop
To perform (a move or stunt) while riding a board or vehicle.
Pop
To undergo equalization of pressure when the Eustachian tubes open.
My ears popped as the aeroplane began to ascend.
Pop
(dance) To perform the popping style of dance.
Pop
To arrest.
He's on probation. We can pop him right now for gang association.
Pop
Used to represent a loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.
Pop
(used attributively in set phrases) Popular.
Pop
A small, sharp, quick explosive sound or report; as, to go off with a pop.
Pop
A nonalcoholic carbonated beverage; - so called because it expels the cork with a pop from the bottle containing it; as, ginger pop; lemon pop, etc.
Pop
The European redwing.
Pop
To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound; as, the muskets popped away on all sides.
Pop
To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden movement; to move from place to place suddenly; to dart; - with in, out, upon, off, etc.
He that killed my king . . . Popp'd in between the election and my hopes.
A trick of popping up and down every moment.
Pop
To burst open with a pop, when heated over a fire; as, this corn pops well.
Pop
To thrust or push suddenly; to offer suddenly; to bring suddenly and unexpectedly to notice; as, to pop one's head in at the door.
He popped a paper into his hand.
Pop
To cause to pop; to cause to burst open by heat, as grains of Indian corn; as, to pop corn or chestnuts.
Pop
To eat or swallow; - of food, especially snacks, in small pieces; as, he popped a whole can of peanuts while watching the movie.
Pop
Like a pop; suddenly; unexpectedly.
Pop
An informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
Pop
A sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring;
In New England they call sodas tonics
Pop
A sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
Pop
Music of general appeal to teenagers; a bland watered-down version of rock'n'roll with more rhythm and harmony and an emphasis on romantic love
Pop
Bulge outward;
His eyes popped
Pop
Hit a pop-fly;
He popped out to shortstop
Pop
Make a sharp explosive noise;
The cork of the champagne bottle popped
Pop
Fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise;
The soldiers were popping
Pop
Cause to make a sharp explosive sound;
He popped the champagne bottle
Pop
Appear suddenly or unexpectedly;
The farm popped into view as we turned the corner
He suddenly popped up out of nowhere
Pop
Put or thrust suddenly and forcefully;
Pop the pizza into the microwave oven
He popped the petit-four into his mouth
Pop
Release suddenly;
Pop the clutch
Pop
Hit or strike;
He popped me on the head
Pop
Drink down entirely;
He downed three martinis before dinner
She killed a bottle of brandy that night
They popped a few beer after work
Pop
Take drugs, especially orally;
The man charged with murder popped a valium to calm his nerves
Pop
Cause to burst with a lound, explosive sound;
The child popped the balloon
Pop
Burst open with a sharp, explosive sound;
The balloon popped
This popcorn pops quickly in the microwave oven
Pop
(of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people)
Pop
Like a pop or with a pop;
Everything went pop
Common Curiosities
What is a pop sound?
A pop sound is a sharp, sudden noise made by an object bursting or being struck.
How are pop and plop different in sound?
Pop is sharp and sudden, whereas plop is softer, indicating a liquid interaction.
Can pop be used to describe music?
Yes, pop is a term often used to describe a genre of popular, mainstream music.
Can both pop and plop describe actions?
Yes, but pop often implies bursting or making a quick sound, while plop involves dropping something into liquid.
Is it common to use pop metaphorically?
Yes, pop can be used metaphorically to describe sudden appearances or ideas, unlike plop.
Can plop be used to describe how someone sits down?
Yes, plop can describe sitting down heavily or carelessly.
Is plop used in everyday language?
Plop is used in specific contexts to describe the action or sound of something falling into liquid.
Is pop always loud?
Pop sounds are generally sharp and sudden but can vary in loudness.
What does plop mean?
Plop refers to the soft sound produced when an object falls or is dropped into liquid.
Do pop and plop have similar cultural connotations?
No, pop has broad cultural relevance, including in music and art, while plop's usage is more literal and limited.
What is an example of something that plops?
A stone falling into a pond is a classic example of something that plops.
What is the difference between popping and plopping something?
Popping something usually means causing it to burst, while plopping involves dropping it into a liquid to create a soft sound.
Does plop always involve water?
While not always water, plop typically involves an object entering a liquid medium.
Can pop be used in a non-physical sense?
Yes, pop is often used metaphorically, such as an idea popping into one’s head.
Can pop describe a genre of music?
Yes, pop music is a popular genre known for its catchy melodies and broad appeal.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
