stooped; stooping; stoops
1
a
: to bend the body or a part of the body forward and downward sometimes simultaneously bending the knees
b
: to stand or walk with a forward inclination of the head, body, or shoulders
3
a
: to descend from a superior rank, dignity, or status
b
: to lower oneself morally
stooped to lying
4
a
archaic
: to move down from a height : alight
b
: to fly or dive down swiftly usually to attack prey
1
a
: an act of bending the body forward
b
: a temporary or habitual forward bend of the back and shoulders
2
: the descent of a bird especially on its prey
3
: a lowering of oneself
: a porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda at a house door
Examples of stoop in a Sentence
Verb
She stooped down to hug the child.
He had to stoop to pick it up.
He tends to stoop as he walks.
He really did that? I didn't think he could stoop so low.
Noun (2)
the stoop at the front entrance is just big enough to shield a resident from the elements as he fumbles for his keys
Recent Examples on the Web
Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
The problem of always being on and willing to do better
In his second year of medical school, Ehrenfeld recalled being at an operating table with particularly sharp corners and stooping down to pick something up.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Sarah Adler
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Hathaway, 42, took a tumble down a stoop when the heel of her shoe appeared to break off.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stoop
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Verb
The show, known for its Emmy Award winning costumes, was quick to help conceal Coon’s pregnancy without stooping to TV gimmicks.
—Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
The problem of always being on and willing to do better
In his second year of medical school, Ehrenfeld recalled being at an operating table with particularly sharp corners and stooping down to pick something up.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
Bouquets of white flowers began appearing on our apartment stoop.
—Sarah Adler
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Hathaway, 42, took a tumble down a stoop when the heel of her shoe appeared to break off.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stoop
Cite this Entry
“Stoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoop. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stoop
1 of 3 verb1
a
: to bend down or over
b
: to stand or walk with the head and shoulders or the upper part of the body bent forward
2
: to degrade oneself
stoop to lying
stoop
2 of 3 noun1
: an act of bending the body forward
2
: a forward bend of the back and shoulders that is temporary or by habit
stoop
3 of 3 noun
: a porch, platform, or entrance stairway at a house door
Etymology
Verb
Old English stūpian "to stoop, bend over"
Noun
from Dutch stoep "porch, stoop"
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