hoop

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of hoopnext
often attributive
1
: a circular strip used especially for holding together the staves of containers or as a plaything
2
a
: a circular figure or object : ring
b
: the rim of a basketball goal
broadly : the entire goal
3
: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt
4
: basketball
usually used in plural
hooplike
ˈhüp-ˌlīk How to pronounce hoop (audio)
also ˈhu̇p
adjective

hoop

2 of 2

verb

hooped; hooping; hoops

transitive verb

: to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop
hooper noun

Examples of hoop in a Sentence

Noun made Christmas garlands from hoops of red and green construction paper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There are both indoor and outdoor courts where the family shoots hoops. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026 The Denver East girls hoops coach was named the 2026 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s High School Assistant Coach of the Year on March 26 at the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
This was hooping of the highest order, quite possibly the best game of the NBA season if not the craziest. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026 His father, Pedro, played basketball for the Dominican Republic national team and Raposo hooped and played volleyball for both the national team and the American University of Puerto Rico. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoop

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōp; akin to Middle Dutch hoep ring, hoop

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoop was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoop. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

hoop

noun
ˈhu̇p
ˈhüp
1
: a circular band used for holding together the strips that make up the sides of a barrel
also : a similar band used as a toy
2
a
: a circular figure or object : ring
b
: the rim of a basketball goal
broadly : the entire goal
3
: basketball
usually used in plural
4
: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt
hoop verb

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