What does choppily mean?
Choppily is an adverb that describes something that is done in a choppy or uneven manner. It is often used to describe something that is not smooth or continuous, such as a boat chugging along a river or a car driving down a bumpy road. The word is derived from the verb 'chop', which means to cut or strike something with a sharp blow. Choppily can also be used to describe something that is done in a way that is not steady or even, such as a singer's voice struggling to hit high notes. The word is commonly used in both British and American English, and is often used in informal contexts. It is a useful word for describing something that is not smooth or continuous, and can add variety and interest to writing and speech.
adverbUsed to describe something that is done in a choppy or uneven manner, often with a lack of smoothness or continuity.
- Used to describe something that is done in a choppy or uneven manner
"The boat chugged along the river choppily, its engine sputtering and coughing."
"The car drove choppily down the bumpy road."
"The singer's voice chugged along choppily, struggling to hit the high notes."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choppily
Choppily is derived from the verb 'chop', which is thought to have originated in the 14th century. The verb 'chop' is likely derived from the Old English word 'ceppan', which means 'to cut' or 'to strike'. The adverb 'choppily' is likely a development of the verb 'chop' in the 17th or 18th century.
How choppily is actually used
Choppily is often used to describe something that is done in a way that is not smooth or continuous, such as a boat chugging along a river or a car driving down a bumpy road. It can also be used to describe something that is done in a way that is not steady or even, such as a singer's voice struggling to hit high notes.