Advertisement
Advertisement
ope
[ ohp ]
Discover More
Example Sentences
A spokesman affirmed: “This meeting, like most OPE meetings, is closed to press and off the record.”
In vaginismo hysterico et in aliis casibus insanabilibus intromissio fieri potest ope chloroformi ad evitandum divortium.
The skipper yawned, put out his tongue, Then ope'd his eyes in wondrous haste, And then upon the floor he sprung!
You were born for a mansion, an' I 'ope you'll always 'ave one to live in.'
And Hi 'ope that Dobbs 'as given ample proof to Bobbs that ee his deservin' of 'is confidence.
I 'ope you won't think me troublesome, sir, if I tells you 'ow matters are between Mrs. Crofton and my 'usband?
Advertisement
Discover More
More About Ope
What does ope mean?
In casual usage, ope is an interjection used to express surprise or to alert someone, as in Ope, didn’t mean to bump into you!
The word ope is considered a Midwestern slang term that’s closely related to oops or whoops. Spill some coffee on your shirt? Ope! You’re going to have to change shirts. Drop something while you’re cooking? Ope! Can’t eat that. Bump into someone on the subway? Ope! My bad!
Even though ope is known as Midwestern slang, usage has spread to other parts of the country as well.
Ope is also an archaic word meaning “open” and was especially used in poetry and other literature. For example, it appears in William Shakespeare’s play The Life and Death of King John. In Act II, a citizen says to King John, “The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope, / And give you entrance.” Today, this use of ope is rare.
Example: Ope, let me scooch right by ya real quick!
Where does ope come from?
The first records of the term ope meaning “oops” are unknown, and it’s not clear where it originated from. It’s popularly used in the Midwest, as well as other places in the US.
The first records of the term ope meaning “open” come from around the 1270s. It’s a shortening of the term open, meaning “not closed.”
Did you know ... ?
What are some synonyms for ope?
What are some words that share a root or word element with ope?
What are some words that often get used in discussing ope?
How is ope used in real life?
The word ope is most often used in casual conversations to mean “oops.” It’s especially common among Midwesterners.
Every time Ohio State has a bad snap approximately 11 million people say “ope” in their living rooms
— Ramzy Nasrallah (@ramzy) December 5, 2020
Can’t wait to “Ope lemme squeeze right past ya” again at the bar
— Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) April 25, 2020
the covid swab tickled my throat and made me cough in my doctor's face. i was like ope sorry guess we'll find out if that's a problem tomorrow
— Ian Dukes (@ianpauldukes) July 21, 2020
Try using ope!
Is ope used correctly in the following sentence?
“Ope! Congratulations on your job promotion!”
Word of the Day
[pet-ri-kawr]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse