stoop

1
[ stoop ]
See synonyms for: stoopstoopedstooping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward from an erect position: to stoop over a desk.

  2. to carry the head and shoulders habitually bowed forward: to stoop from age.

  1. (of trees, precipices, etc.) to bend, bow, or lean.

  2. to descend from one's level of dignity; condescend; deign: Don't stoop to argue with him.

  3. to swoop down, as a hawk at prey.

  4. to submit; yield.

  5. Obsolete. to come down from a height.

verb (used with object)
  1. to bend (oneself, one's head, etc.) forward and downward.

  2. Archaic. to abase, humble, or subdue.

noun
  1. the act or an instance of stooping.

  2. a stooping position or carriage of body: The elderly man walked with a stoop.

  1. a descent from dignity or superiority.

  2. a downward swoop, as of a hawk.

Origin of stoop

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stoupen, stupen, Old English stūpian; cognate with Middle Dutch stūpen “to bend, bow”; akin to steep1

synonym study For stoop

1. See bend1.

Other words for stoop

Other words from stoop

  • stooper, noun
  • stoop·ing·ly, adverb
  • non·stoop·ing, adjective
  • un·stooped, adjective
  • un·stoop·ing, adjective

Other definitions for stoop (2 of 3)

stoop2
[ stoop ]

noun
  1. a small porch or platform at the entrance to a house, or the steps leading up to it.

Origin of stoop

2
An Americanism dating back to 1670–80; from Dutch stoep; cognate with Middle Low German stōpe, German Stufe “step (in a stair)”; see step

Other definitions for stoop (3 of 3)

stoop3
[ stoop ]

noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use stoop in a sentence

  • Stooping, lest our heads furnish a target, we splashed along in the shallow water till we reached the mouth of the canyon.

    Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
  • He saw the big hands outspread, he saw the slightly stooping shoulders, he saw the face and eyes, the light blue eyes.

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • Mr. Mason was fond of children, and stooping down he kissed the child, who drew back and hid behind Jake.

    The Cromptons | Mary J. Holmes
  • "Mr. Mudge requires no hat where he is now," continued the doctor, stooping to poke the fire.

    Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for stoop (1 of 4)

stoop1

/ (stuːp) /


verb(mainly intr)
  1. (also tr) to bend (the body or the top half of the body) forward and downward

  2. to carry oneself with head and shoulders habitually bent forward

  1. (often foll by to) to abase or degrade oneself

  2. (often foll by to) to condescend; deign

  3. (of a bird of prey) to swoop down

  4. archaic to give in

noun
  1. the act, position, or characteristic of stooping

  2. a lowering from a position of dignity or superiority

  1. a downward swoop, esp of a bird of prey

Origin of stoop

1
Old English stūpan; related to Middle Dutch stupen to bow, Old Norse stūpa, Norwegian stupa to fall; see steep 1

Derived forms of stoop

  • stooper, noun
  • stooping, adjective
  • stoopingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for stoop (2 of 4)

stoop2

/ (stuːp) /


noun
  1. US and Canadian a small platform with steps up to it at the entrance to a building

Origin of stoop

2
C18: from Dutch stoep, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stuofa stair, Old English stōpel footprint; see step

British Dictionary definitions for stoop (3 of 4)

stoop3

/ (stuːp) /


noun
  1. archaic a pillar or post

Origin of stoop

3
C15: variant of dialect stulpe, probably from Old Norse stolpe; see stele

British Dictionary definitions for stoop (4 of 4)

stoop4

/ (stuːp) /


noun
  1. a less common spelling of stoup

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012