whoop

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verb

ˈhüp

ˈhu̇p

ˈ(h)wüp

ˈ(h)wu̇p

whooped; whooping; whoops

Synonyms of whoop next

intransitive verb

: to utter a whoop in expression of eagerness, enthusiasm, or enjoyment : shout

: to utter the cry or call of an animal (such as an owl or gibbon)

: to make the characteristic whoop of whooping cough

: to go or pass with a loud noise

: to be rushed through by acclamation or with noisy support

the bill whooped through both houses

transitive verb

: to utter or express with a whoop

: to urge, drive, or cheer on with a whoop

: to agitate in behalf of

: raise, boost

whoop up the price

whoop

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noun

: a loud yell expressive of eagerness, exuberance, or jubilation

—often used interjectionally

: a shout of hunters or of people in battle or pursuit

: the loud cry or call of an animal (such as an owl, whooping crane, or gibbon) that resembles the sound of the word whoop

: the crowing intake of breath following a paroxysm in whooping cough

: a minimum amount or degree : the least bit

not worth a whoop

Phrases

whoop it up

: to celebrate riotously : carouse

: to stir up enthusiasm

Example Sentences

Verb The children whooped with joy at the sight of all the presents. Noun let out a whoop of joy he acts so rudely that I doubt he gives a whoop about other people's feelings

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Though the team’s practice of doling out foam tomahawks has faded, the club still goads fans to whoop with the sounds of a beating drum. Major League Baseball and its commissioner, Rob Manfred, have done little to discourage the archaic mockery, either. —

Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2021 Conner, who had spent eight days undergoing a grueling drug regimen to make room in his bone marrow for the stem cells, stirred but stayed asleep as nurses whooped and clapped during the half-hour, one-time infusion on March 16. —

Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2023 So, life has whooped Inez’s ass, right? —

Juliana Ukiomogbe, ELLE, 29 Mar. 2023 As Ro began to walk in a circle, Ms. Kitt broke into a wide smile, waving her hand above her head like a pageant queen as her family whooped and cheered, filming her on their phones. —

Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2023 The Ambersweet Margarita from Ambersweet inside the Confidante Miami Beach is going to cost you a whooping $125. —

Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 Little Madilyn, tittering, looks up at me and stuffs both hands into her mouth to stop from whooping. —

E. Jean Carroll, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2018 Haydn’s wit is best administered in low doses, but alas, his 60th symphony would much rather whoop you upside the head. —

Hannah Edgar, chicagotribune.com, 24 July 2021 The support staff of Jimmy Kimmel Live (sidekick Guillermo and announcer Lou Wilson) took a minute or so to whoop it up in favor of a 32-hour work week. —

Vulture, 15 Apr. 2022

Noun

The song got a surprisingly rootsy, rock-band production, as opposed to the far slicker soundtrack version, and was interrupted by whoops and hollers from a clearly captivated audience. —

Thania Garcia, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023 Big whoop! —

Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022 Hearn let out a triumphant whoop. —

Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2022 But really, big whoop! —

Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Oct. 2021 No big whoop? —

Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 18 May 2021 Big whoop! —

Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2021 Below are the seven series that drew whoops and appreciative hollers from a room full of international buyers. —

Ben Croll, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023 Drivers battle the open desert full of whoops, soft sand, and steep hill climbs that challenge even the quickest of cars. —

Emme Hall, The Verge, 24 Feb. 2023 See More

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