stoop

1 of 3

verb

ˈstüp 

stooped; stooping; stoops

intransitive verb

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

2

: yield, submit

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

transitive verb

1

: debase, degrade

2

: to bend (a part of the body) forward and downward

stoop

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

stoop

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda at a house door

Synonyms of stoop

Verb

• disgrace
• shame
• deign
• condescend
• humble
• lower

Noun (2)

• porch

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

Verb

In what is likely his final World Cup, the 34-year-old scored his first international major tournament goal, stooping to nod Liverpool team-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s cross home after 50 minutes. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 June 2026

Grow tomatoes, vegetables, herbs, or your favorite flowers comfortably without the need to bend or stoop. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026

Noun

Swiping through the rest of the personal snapshots, the sisters are seen over the years enjoying ice cream cones on a New York City stoop, hugging, sharing a swing, practicing ballet, and posing with their famous mother backstage at Cinderella on Broadway. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026

And that the only way to protect my user, DaveMacDaddy52, and DaveMacDaddy52’s Amazon packages, is to keep an unblinking eye on the front stoop—and the flagstone walkway, and the hydrangea bushes. — Carrie McCrossen, New Yorker, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English stoupen, from Old English stūpian; akin to Swedish stupa to fall, plunge, Old English stēap steep, deep

Noun (2)

Dutch stoep; akin to Old English stæpe step — more at step

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1755, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stoop

• descend/sink/stoop to someone's level
• stoop labor

Rhymes for stoop

• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop

Kids Definition

stoop

1 of 3 verb

ˈstüp 

1

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 noun

1

: 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"