PUSH vs. POP — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 14, 2023
PUSH" refers to applying force to move something away, while "POP" often denotes a sudden, sharp sound or an act of removing something from a collection.
Difference Between PUSH and POP
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In the realm of action and sound, "PUSH" and "POP" stand distinctively apart. "PUSH" implies exerting force on an object, typically with the intention of moving it away from oneself. For instance, to open a door that's labeled "PUSH," one needs to apply force outward. This action is often associated with moving forward or progressing, especially in metaphorical contexts.
"POP," on the other hand, often conjures the image or sound of something bursting, like a balloon. But beyond this, in the context of data structures in computer science, "POP" refers to removing the top item from a stack. In contrast, "PUSH" implies adding an item to the top of this stack. These terms, though rooted in simple physical actions or sounds, find varied applications across different fields.
Moreover, while "PUSH" predominantly has connotations of force and direction, "POP" can also be associated with sudden appearances or occurrences. For example, someone might "pop" into one's mind, suggesting an unexpected or sudden remembrance.
In everyday parlance, both words have made their way into colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions. While "PUSH" might be used to motivate someone to try harder ("push yourself"), "POP" could denote a casual visit ("pop over to my place"). Thus, even as standalone terms, "PUSH" and "POP" are rich in meaning, each offering a different shade of interpretation based on context.
Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
To apply force to move something away
A sudden, sharp sound
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Context in Data Storage
Adding an item to a collection, like a stack
Removing the top item from a collection, like a stack
Colloquial Usage
To exert oneself or increase effort
To visit briefly or appear suddenly
Sound Association
Generally doesn't have a distinct sound
Associated with bursting or sudden occurrences
Metaphorical Implication
Progression, force, direction
Suddenness, unexpectedness
Compare with Definitions
Push
To promote or advertise aggressively.
The company is pushing its new product.
Pop
To burst or cause to burst.
She popped the bubble wrap.
Push
To encourage or urge someone to do something.
My coach always pushes me to do my best.
Pop
To make a short, sharp, explosive sound.
Push
To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it
Pushed the door but couldn't budge it.
Pop
To burst open with a short, sharp, explosive sound.
Push
To move (something) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove
Pushed the crate aside.
Pop
To move quickly or unexpectedly; appear abruptly
At last the cottage popped into view.
Push
To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.
Pop
To open wide suddenly
The child's eyes popped with astonishment.
Push
To force (one's way)
We pushed our way through the crowd.
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.
Push
To urge forward or urge insistently; pressure
Pushed him to study harder.
Pop
(Baseball) To hit a short high fly ball, especially one that can be caught by an infielder
Popped out to shortstop.
Push
To extend or enlarge
Pushed sales into the millions.
Pop
To shoot a firearm, such as a pistol.
Push
(Informal) To approach in age
Is pushing 40 and still hasn't settled down.
Pop
To be exciting
A club that really pops at night.
Push
(Informal) To promote or sell (a product)
The author pushed her latest book by making appearances in bookstores.
Pop
To be visually striking
A logo that really pops.
Push
(Slang) To sell (a narcotic) illegally
Push drugs.
Pop
To cause to make a sharp bursting sound.
Push
(Sports) To hit (a ball) in the direction toward the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the right of a right-handed player.
Pop
To cause to open with a sharp bursting sound
Popped the hood of the car to check the oil.
Push
To exert pressure or force against something
Winds pushing against the sail.
Pop
To cause to explode with a sharp bursting sound
Popped the balloon.
Push
To advance despite difficulty or opposition; press forward
The regiment pushed toward the front line.
Pop
To put or thrust suddenly or unexpectedly
"popping a crisp plump shrimp into her mouth" (Kathleen Winsor).
Push
To advocate or recommend something insistently
Pushed for a change in leadership.
Pop
To discharge (a firearm).
Push
To expend great or vigorous effort
Pushed to finish his paper by the deadline.
Pop
To fire at; shoot.
Push
The act of pushing; a thrust
Gave the door a push.
Pop
To hit or strike
Popped me on the head.
Push
The act of pressing
With a push of the button.
Pop
(Baseball) To hit (a ball) high in the air but not far.
Push
A vigorous or insistent effort toward an end; a drive
A push to reform health care.
Pop
To release (a clutch) suddenly.
Push
A provocation to action; a stimulus
Has artistic talent but needs a push to get started.
Pop
To take (drugs), especially orally
"To calm a case of the jitters ... the bride popped Valium" (People).
Push
(Informal) Persevering energy; enterprise
Doesn't have the push to get the job done.
Pop
To have (a drink)
Popped a few beers after work.
Push
To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.
In his anger he pushed me against the wall and threatened me.
You need to push quite hard to get this door open.
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).
Push
(transitive) To continually attempt to persuade (a person) into a particular course of action.
Pop
A sudden sharp, explosive sound.
Push
(transitive) To press or urge forward; to drive.
To push an objection too far; to push one's luck
Pop
A shot with a firearm.
Push
(transitive) To continually promote (a point of view, a product for sale, etc.).
Stop pushing the issue — I'm not interested.
They're pushing that perfume again.
There were two men hanging around the school gates today, pushing drugs.
Pop
Chiefly Midwestern US See soft drink. See Note at tonic.
Push
(intransitive) To continually exert oneself in order to achieve a goal.
Pop
(Baseball) A pop fly.
Push
To approach; to come close to.
My old car is pushing 250,000 miles.
Pop
Father.
Push
(intransitive) To tense the muscles in the abdomen in order to expel its contents.
During childbirth, there are times when the obstetrician advises the woman not to push.
Pop
Popular music.
Push
(intransitive) To continue to attempt to persuade a person into a particular course of action.
Pop
Pop art.
Push
To make a higher bid at an auction.
Pop
With a popping sound.
Push
(poker) To make an all-in bet.
Pop
Abruptly or unexpectedly.
Push
To move (a pawn) directly forward.
Pop
Of or for the general public; popular or popularized
Pop culture.
Pop psychology.
Push
(computing) To add (a data item) to the top of a stack.
Pop
Of, relating to, or specializing in popular music
A pop singer.
Push
(computing) To publish (an update, etc.) by transmitting it to other computers.
Pop
Of or suggestive of pop art
A pop style.
Push
(obsolete) To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore.
Pop
(countable) A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.
Listen to the pop of a champagne cork.
Push
To burst out of its pot, as a bud or shoot.
Pop
An effervescent or fizzy drink, most frequently nonalcoholic; soda pop.
Lunch was sandwiches and a bottle of pop.
Push
(snooker) To strike the cue ball in such a way that it stays in contact with the cue and object ball at the same time (a foul shot).
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.
Push
A short, directed application of force; an act of pushing.
Give the door a hard push if it sticks.
Pop
A pop shot: a quick, possibly unaimed, shot with a firearm.
The man with the gun took a pop at the rabbit.
Push
An act of tensing the muscles of the abdomen in order to expel its contents.
One more push and the baby will be out.
Pop
A quantity dispensed; a portion; apiece.
They cost 50 pence a pop.
Push
A great effort (to do something).
Some details got lost in the push to get the project done.
Let's give one last push on our advertising campaign.
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
Push
An attempt to persuade someone into a particular course of action.
Pop
(computing) The removal of a data item from the top of a stack.
Push
(military) A marching or drill maneuver/manoeuvre performed by moving a formation (especially a company front) forward or toward the audience, usually to accompany a dramatic climax or crescendo in the music.
Pop
A bird, the European redwing.
Push
A wager that results in no loss or gain for the bettor as a result of a tie or even score
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.
Push
(computing) The addition of a data item to the top of a stack.
Pop
A pistol.
Push
The situation where a server sends data to a client without waiting for a request.
Server push; a push technology
Pop
A small, immature peanut, boiled as a snack.
Push
A particular crowd or throng or people.
Pop
(colloquial) freeze pop
Push
(snooker) A foul shot in which the cue ball is in contact with the cue and the object ball at the same time
Pop
A (usually very) loud audience reaction.
Push
A pustule; a pimple.
Pop
One's father.
My pop used to tell me to do my homework every night.
Push
A pustule; a pimple.
Pop
Pop music.
Push
A thrust with a pointed instrument, or with the end of a thing.
Pop
A Russian Orthodox priest; a parson.
Push
Any thrust. pressure, impulse, or force, or force applied; a shove; as, to give the ball the first push.
Pop
(intransitive) To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound.
The muskets popped away on all sides.
Push
An assault or attack; an effort; an attempt; hence, the time or occasion for action.
Exact reformation is not perfected at the first push.
When it comes to the push, 'tis no more than talk.
Pop
(ergative) To burst (something) with a popping sound.
The boy with the pin popped the balloon.
This corn pops well.
Push
The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push, or he has no push.
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.
Push
A crowd; a company or clique of associates; a gang.
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.
Push
To press against with force; to drive or impel by pressure; to endeavor to drive by steady pressure, without striking; - opposed to draw.
Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat.
Pop
To make a short trip or visit.
I'm just popping round to the newsagent.
I'll pop by your place later today.
Push
To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore.
If the ox shall push a manservant or maidservant, . . . the ox shall be stoned.
Pop
(intransitive) To stand out; to be distinctive to the senses.
This colour really pops.
Push
To press or urge forward; to drive; to push an objection too far.
Ambition pushes the soul to such actions as are apt to procure honor to the actor.
We are pushed for an answer.
Pop
(transitive) To hit (something or someone).
He popped me on the nose.
Push
To bear hard upon; to perplex; to embarrass.
Pop
To shoot (usually somebody) with a firearm.
Push
To importune; to press with solicitation; to tease.
Pop
To ejaculate; to orgasm.
Push
To make a thrust; to shove; as, to push with the horns or with a sword.
Pop
To remove (a data item) from the top of a stack.
Push
To make an advance, attack, or effort; to be energetic; as, a man must push in order to succeed.
At the time of the end shall the kind of the south push at him and the king of the north shall come against him.
War seemed asleep for nine long years; at lengthBoth sides resolved to push, we tried our strength.
Pop
To give birth.
Push
To burst pot, as a bud or shoot.
The rider pushed on at a rapid pace.
Pop
To pawn (something) (to raise money).
I had to pop my watch to see me through until pay-day.
Push
The act of applying force in order to move something away;
He gave the door a hard push
The pushing is good exercise
Pop
To swallow or consume (especially a tablet of a drug, sometimes extended to other small items such as sweets or candy).
Push
The force used in pushing;
The push of the water on the walls of the tank
The thrust of the jet engines
Pop
To perform (a move or stunt) while riding a board or vehicle.
Push
Enterprising or ambitious drive;
Europeans often laugh at American energy
Pop
To undergo equalization of pressure when the Eustachian tubes open.
My ears popped as the aeroplane began to ascend.
Push
An electrical switch operated by pressing a button;
The elevator was operated by push buttons
The push beside the bed operated a buzzer at the desk
Pop
(dance) To perform the popping style of dance.
Push
An effort to advance;
The army made a push toward the sea
Pop
To arrest.
He's on probation. We can pop him right now for gang association.
Push
Move with force,
He pushed the table into a corner
Pop
Used to represent a loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.
Push
Press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action;
He pushed her to finish her doctorate
Pop
(used attributively in set phrases) Popular.
Push
Make publicity for; try to sell (a product);
The salesman is aggressively pushing the new computer model
The company is heavily advertizing their new laptops
Pop
A small, sharp, quick explosive sound or report; as, to go off with a pop.
Push
Strive and make an effort to reach a goal;
She tugged for years to make a decent living
We have to push a little to make the deadline!
She is driving away at her doctoral thesis
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.
Push
Press against forcefully without being able to move;
She pushed against the wall with all her strength
Pop
The European redwing.
Push
Approach a certain age or speed;
She is pushing fifty
Pop
To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound; as, the muskets popped away on all sides.
Push
Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for;
The liberal party pushed for reforms
She is crusading for women's rights
The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate
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.
Push
Sell or promote the sale of (illegal goods such as drugs);
The guy hanging around the school is pushing drugs
Pop
To burst open with a pop, when heated over a fire; as, this corn pops well.
Push
Move strenuously and with effort;
The crowd pushed forward
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.
Push
Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby;
`Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman
Pop
To cause to pop; to cause to burst open by heat, as grains of Indian corn; as, to pop corn or chestnuts.
Push
To exert force on something to move it away.
He had to push the door hard to open it.
Pop
To eat or swallow; - of food, especially snacks, in small pieces; as, he popped a whole can of peanuts while watching the movie.
Push
To press a button or device.
She'll push the elevator button for you.
Pop
Like a pop; suddenly; unexpectedly.
Push
To approach a certain condition or state.
The temperature is pushing 90 degrees.
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
Pop
A sudden, sharp noise.
The balloon went pop.
Pop
To go somewhere or do something quickly.
I'll pop over to the store.
Pop
To take something out, especially from one's mouth.
Pop that candy out of your mouth!
Pop
To place something suddenly or unexpectedly.
He popped the letter into the envelope.
Common Curiosities
Is POP only related to sound?
No, POP can refer to sound, sudden appearance, or the act of removing something, among other meanings.
What sound does pop typically represent?
Pop typically represents a sudden, sharp, bursting sound.
What does it mean to "push one's limits"?
It means to exert oneself to the maximum or try extremely hard.
What does it mean to push in physical terms?
To push means to exert force on something to move it away.
In computing, how are PUSH and POP used?
In computing, especially with stacks, PUSH means to add an item, and POP means to remove the top item.
Can POP also mean to visit someone?
Yes, phrases like "pop over" or "pop in" refer to making a brief or unexpected visit.
What does "pop the question" mean?
It's an idiom meaning to propose marriage.
What does it mean when something "pushes the envelope"?
It means to go beyond the usual limits or boundaries.
Is PUSH always a physical action?
No, it can be metaphorical, like pushing oneself to learn.
Can POP mean to open something?
Yes, like "pop the lid off" meaning to open a container.
How is PUSH related to marketing?
In marketing, to push a product means to promote or advertise it aggressively.
Can PUSH have a negative connotation?
Yes, especially if someone feels pressured or pushed too hard against their will.
How is POP used in context with music?
POP can refer to a genre of popular music.
What does it mean when something "pops up"?
It means that something appears or occurs suddenly or unexpectedly.
Can both PUSH and POP be used as nouns and verbs?
Yes, both words can function as nouns ("give it a push", "a loud pop") and verbs ("push the cart", "balloons pop easily").
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
