whoop

verb \ ˈhüp , ˈhu̇p , ˈhwüp , ˈhwu̇p , ˈwüp , ˈwu̇p \

Definition of whoop

intransitive verb

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

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

3 :to make the characteristic whoop of whooping cough

4 a :to go or pass with a loud noise

b :to be rushed through by acclamation or with noisy support

the bill whooped through both houses

transitive verb

1 a :to utter or express with a whoop

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

2 :to agitate in behalf of

3 :raise, boost

whoop up the price

— whoop it up

1 :to celebrate riotously :carouse

2 :to stir up enthusiasm

See whoop defined for English-language learners

See whoop defined for kids

Examples of whoop in a Sentence

The children whooped with joy at the sight of all the presents.

Recent Examples of whoop from the Web

Frogs started to croak as people whooped and hollered.

— melissa chan, Time, "A Total Solar Eclipse Makes History as It Sweeps Across America," 21 Aug. 2017
Standouts include tuna tartare with spicy guacamole, beef tartare with caviar, roasted cauliflower with curry oil, sea bass with shellfish jus, and a Wagyu beef sirloin for two that comes in at a whooping €195.

— alec lobrano, Bon Appetit, "6 Paris Brasseries to Park at (and Drink Wine) All Afternoon," 9 Aug. 2017
In fact, a sitting vice president hasn't run against a sitting president in the next election's primary since 1940, when John Nance Garner got whooped by Frankie Roosevelt seeking his third term.

— jack moore, GQ, "Mike Pence Sounds Very Afraid That Donald Trump Is Going to Be Mad at Him," 7 Aug. 2017
The footage had the entirety of Hall H on their feet, whooping and hollering and whistling.

— mia galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Black Panther' Footage Brings Comic-Con Crowd to It's Feet," 22 July 2017
A Gueydan man pleaded guilty Friday to five charges related to shooting and injuring a whooping crane that ultimately had to be euthanized.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Man sentenced for shooting whooping crane," 11 July 2017
Thibodeaux pleaded guilty to taking a whooping crane for which there is no season and wanton waste of migratory game birds as well as taking migratory game birds out of season, from a moving vehicle and without a Louisiana hunting license.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Man sentenced for shooting whooping crane," 11 July 2017
And yes, your children turned out fine, but co-sleeping, whooping cough, etc.,

— carolyn hax, Philly.com, "Grandma thinks they complicate parenting," 11 July 2017
This is not just a mom-and-pop shop that can say, 'whoops.'

— abha bhattarai, chicagotribune.com, "Carl's Jr. ordered to pay $1.45 million for failing to pay workers minimum wage," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whoop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whoop

Middle English whopen, houpen, from Anglo-French huper, of imitative origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

whoop

noun

Definition of whoop

1 a :a loud yell expressive of eagerness, exuberance, or jubilation —often used interjectionally

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

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

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

4 :a minimum amount or degree :the least bit

not worth a whoop

See whoop defined for English-language learners

Examples of whoop in a Sentence

let out a whoop of joy
he acts so rudely that I doubt he gives a whoop about other people's feelings

Recent Examples of whoop from the Web

Along that path, the moon blotted out the midday sun for about two wondrous minutes at any one place, eliciting oohs, aahs, whoops and shouts from people gathered in stadiums, parks and backyards.

— Washington Post, "‘A primal experience’: Americans dazzled by solar eclipse," 22 Aug. 2017
Along that path, the moon blotted out the midday sun for about two wondrous minutes at any one place, eliciting oohs, aahs, whoops and shouts from people gathered in stadiums, parks and backyards.

— Washington Post, "‘A primal experience’: Americans dazzled by solar eclipse," 22 Aug. 2017
Along that path, the moon blotted out the midday sun for about two wondrous minutes at any one place, eliciting oohs, aahs, whoops and shouts from people gathered in stadiums, parks and backyards.

— marcia dunn, The Seattle Times, "‘A primal experience’: Americans dazzled by solar eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
A whoop went up just before 2 p.m. when the clouds receded, revealing the sun with an ever-larger bite out of one side.

— barbara boyer, Philly.com, "Eclipse day: Here's how Philly saw the big event," 21 Aug. 2017
The large crowd greeted the ribbon-cutting with whoops and applause before streaming into the new building.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Ribbon cut to open doors at Heavilin Elementary," 13 Aug. 2017
So Clay gets some voiceover action next season—big whoop!

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "'13 Reasons Why' Just Added Seven New Actors to the Season Two Cast," 9 Aug. 2017
The audience let out a whoop as soon as the music ended, and the curtain calls were downright raucous.

— the washington post, cleveland.com, "'The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs' opera proves tedious - and a triumph," 24 July 2017
The train kept up a relentless pace that whipped riders around turns and over whoop-de-do humps.

— brady macdonald, latimes.com, "Does this little amusement park really have the best wooden coaster in the world?," 10 July 2017

First Known Use of whoop

14th century

whoop Synonyms

Synonyms

cry, holler, hoot, howl, shout, yell, yowl

Related Words

ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wail

Near Antonyms

mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper

WHOOP Defined for English Language Learners

whoop

verb

Definition of whoop for English Language Learners

: to shout loudly in an enthusiastic or excited way

whoop

noun

Definition of whoop for English Language Learners

: a high, loud sound expressing enthusiasm or excitement

WHOOP Defined for Kids

whoop

verb \ ˈhüp , ˈhu̇p \

Definition of whoop for Students

whooped; whooping

1 :to shout or cheer loudly and strongly

“It's the men from camp,” the judge said. “They're searching for us.” We started whooping.
—Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows

2 :to make the high-pitched gasping sound that follows a coughing attack in whooping cough

whoop

noun

Definition of whoop for Students

:a loud strong shout or cheer

Medical Dictionary

whoop

intransitive verb \ ˈhüp , ˈhu̇p \

medical Definition of whoop

:to make the characteristic whoop of whooping cough

whoop

noun

medical Definition of whoop

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

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whoop

Definition of whoop

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First Known Use of whoop

whoop Synonyms

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WHOOP Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of whoop for English Language Learners

whoop

Definition of whoop for English Language Learners

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whoop

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whoop

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Medical Dictionary

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whoop

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