flop

UK: /ˈflɒp/ US: /flɑp/ ,(flop)

Inflections of 'flop' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

flops

v 3rd person singular

flopping

v pres p

flopped

v past

flopped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flop /flɑp/   v., flopped, flop•ping, n. 
v. 

1. to move, drop, or fall in a heavy, clumsy, or negligent manner: [no obj]:
   The puppy just flopped around on the slippery floor. He flopped down on the couch.
   [~ + oneself]
   He flopped himself down.
   [ ~ + obj]:
   He flopped the newspaper on my desk.
2. to be a complete failure;
   fail:
   [no object] The play flopped.

n. [countable]

3. an act or sound of flopping.
4. a complete failure:
   The surprise party was a flop.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flop  (flop), v., flopped, flop•ping, n. 
v.i. 

1. to fall or plump down suddenly, esp. with noise;
   drop or turn with a sudden bump or thud (sometimes fol. by down):
   The puppy flopped down on the couch.
2. to change suddenly, as from one side or party to another (often fol. by over).
3. to be a complete failure;
   fail:
   The play flopped dismally.
4. Informal Terms to sleep or be lodged:
   to flop at a friend's house.
5. to swing loosely;
   bounce;
   flap:
   His long hair flops in his eyes when he runs.

v.t. 

6. to drop with a sudden bump or thud:
   He flopped his books on a chair.
7. to dispose (oneself ) in a heavily negligent manner:
   to flop oneself in a chair.
8. to invert (the negative of a photograph) so that the right and left sides are transposed.

n. 

9. an act of flopping.
10. the sound of flopping;
    a thud.
11. a failure:
    The new comedy was a flop.
12. Informal Terms a place to sleep;
    temporary lodging:
    The mission offered a flop and a free breakfast.

• 1595–1605; 1890–95 for def. 11; variant of flap

flop′per, n. 
Synonyms

• 11. fiasco, disaster, debacle; bomb, dog.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flop / flɒp/ verb (flops, flopping, flopped)

1. (intransitive) to bend, fall, or collapse loosely or carelessly: his head flopped backwards
2. when intr, often followed by into, onto, etc: to fall, cause to fall, or move with a sudden noise
3. (intransitive) to fail; be unsuccessful: the scheme flopped
4. (intransitive) to fall flat onto the surface of water, hitting it with the front of the body
5. (intransitive) often followed by out: to go to sleep

noun

1. the act of flopping
2. a complete failure
3. the flop ⇒ the first three community cards dealt face-up in a round of any of several varieties of poker, including Texas hold 'em

Etymology: 17th Century: variant of flap