stoop

1 of 3

verb

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
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
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

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
Twelve seconds into the footage, Harris punches McAlpin, who stoops downward. Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024 Keep items at waist height and where they will be used, to avoid stooping and stretching. Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2024
Noun
The house is just as offensive, with a new-fangled deck with couches where a proper bench and a stoop should be. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024 The Brits were brought in by their individual owners, who sat on a stoop next to him, gabbing. Brett Berk, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stoop 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stoop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoop was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near stoop

Cite this Entry

“Stoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoop. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

stoop

1 of 3 verb
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on stoop

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