Collocations with POPULAR

• Do you ever wonder why some English phrases just sound “right” and others feel a bit off, even if the words are correct?
• Have you struggled to say that something is “well-liked” or “trendy” in a natural, fluent way?
• Want to impress native speakers with your precise and idiomatic English?

Mastering collocations isn’t just about memorizing words; it’s about learning which words naturally go together, like a perfect pair. For learners, understanding these fixed partnerships transforms awkward sentences into smooth, confident English. Today, we’re diving into the world of “popular” – a word you know, but whose most common partners might surprise you and boost your fluency significantly!

Common Collocations with POPULAR as an Adjective

As an adjective, “popular” describes something that is liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people. Its collocations often fall into categories of how something becomes popular, how much it is popular, or what type of thing is popular.

Verbs that Collocate with POPULAR

These verbs describe the process or state of something being liked by many.

• become popular: To start being liked by many people.

  Example: The new streaming service became popular very quickly due to its exclusive content.
• grow popular: Similar to ‘become popular’, often implying a gradual increase.

  Example: Organic food has grown popular among health-conscious consumers over the last decade.

• prove popular: To be shown or demonstrated to be liked by many people.

  Example: The interactive exhibits at the museum proved popular with children and adults alike.
• remain popular: To continue to be liked by many people over time.

  Example: Despite new competitors, classic rock music continues to remain popular across generations.

• make popular: To cause something to be liked by many people. (Often used in passive voice or with a subject making something popular)

  Example: The viral social media challenge made the song incredibly popular worldwide.

• enjoy popular support: To receive approval or endorsement from many people.

  Example: The new policy proposal seems to enjoy popular support from the majority of the public.

Adverbs that Intensify POPULAR

These adverbs are used to emphasize the degree to which something is popular.

• highly popular: Very popular; liked by a great number of people.

  Example: The band’s latest album is highly popular and has sold millions of copies.
• widely popular: Popular in many places or among a diverse group of people.

  Example: Football is widely popular around the globe, from Europe to South America.

• increasingly popular: Becoming more and more popular.

  Example: Veganism is an increasingly popular lifestyle choice for many people concerned about ethics and health.

• universally popular: Liked by almost everyone, everywhere.

  Example: Some animated films are so charming they are universally popular with all ages and cultures.
• extremely popular: To an extreme degree; very much liked.

  Example: The new video game console is extremely popular, selling out instantly whenever it’s restocked.

• consistently popular: Always or regularly popular over a period of time.

  Example: That restaurant has been consistently popular for years, always maintaining its high standards.

Nouns that POPULAR Describes

“Popular” often precedes these nouns to describe common trends, opinions, or choices.

• popular choice: A choice that many people make or prefer.

  Example: For vacationers, the beach resort is a popular choice because of its sunny weather and amenities.

• popular destination: A place that many people like to visit.

  Example: Paris remains a top popular destination for tourists seeking culture and romance.
• popular belief: An idea or opinion that many people hold.

  Example: Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand.

• popular culture: The cultural activities, products, and styles that are enjoyed by the majority of people.

  Example: Superheroes are a pervasive part of modern popular culture, appearing in films, comics, and video games.
• popular appeal: The quality of being liked by many people.

  Example: The simplicity of the game contributed to its broad popular appeal.

• popular vote: The total number of individual votes cast for a candidate or party in an election.

  Example: The candidate won the popular vote but lost the election due to the electoral system.
• popular trend: A current fashion or general direction in which something is developing that is liked by many.

  Example: Sustainable fashion is a rapidly growing popular trend among consumers.

Key Popular Collocations: Your Quick Reference

Here’s a handy table summarizing some of the most essential collocations with “popular” to quickly review and reinforce your learning.

Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural

One of the biggest challenges for English learners is avoiding direct translation, which often leads to unnatural phrasing. Let’s look at some common errors and how to sound more like a native speaker when using “popular”.

Subject: Project Alpha Update

Hi Team,

I’m thrilled to share some great news about Project Alpha. Our new user interface has truly proved popular with our beta testers, receiving excellent feedback. We’re seeing it become popular even within the internal testing group, far exceeding our initial expectations. Early data suggests it could be a highly popular feature once launched. We’re confident that its intuitive design will enjoy popular support among our customers, solidifying its place as a popular choice in the market. This marks a significant step towards achieving our goal of making our product widely popular globally. Keep up the fantastic work!

Best regards,
Sarah

Frequently Asked Questions about Popular Collocations