whooped; whooping; whoops

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

2 of 2

noun

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
Phrases
whoop it up
1
: to celebrate riotously : carouse
2
: to stir up enthusiasm

Examples of whoop in a Sentence

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
Some of your favorite stars were whooping it up — and promoting their latest projects — at SXSW 2024 in Austin. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024 Plenty of local football fans have been jumping up and down and whooping it up in recent weeks. Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2024 Pretty soon Brayden and Aaron are exchanging F-bombs and threats to whoop each other's butts, etc. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 July 2023 In the audience, family members and supporters whooped and cheered. Madison Malone Kircher Bridget Bennett, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 On an adjacent croquet course, one group of players whooped it up after a tricky shot. Chris MacIas -, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 Most of those who applauded and whooped when the ordinance passed 10-3 were in the yellow T-shirts worn by members of the citywide renter’s union KC Tenants. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2024 But the teams with better athletes; the squads that want to run the floor, attack the rim, and push the pace — Oklahoma City, Dallas, and the new-look Raptors — have whooped the Dubs. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024 Our guests whooped us down the aisle, and there was so much laughter and tears. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023
Noun
Advertisement And just standing there, impassively, as his jubilant Aztecs teammates spilled onto the court and tackled him, their whoops echoing through the arena as 15,431 quietly walked up the aisles to the parking lot. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024 Levi recorded a group of singers making different shrieks and whoops, then constructed a collage from them that slowly, gradually descends in pitch. Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023 And the sheer amount of time spent airborne over whoops and jumps absolutely boggles the mind. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2023 There were whoops from the audience, and Reich approached several people who, perilously, had seats in the front row. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023 On this kind of terrain, the RZR Pro R absolutely gobbles up mileage, massive Fox Live Valve shocks absorbing smaller whoops and even the occasional four-wheel jump with ease. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023 The work ended with a long rising and falling vocal whoop from the players. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2023 After Ascencio finished her presentation, a whoop sounded from a tent in the back of the camp. Maria Sacchetti, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023 Despite a rousing round of applause and plenty of whoops and hollers, the musicians deflected. Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023

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.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of whoop was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near whoop

Cite this Entry

“Whoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whoop. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whoop

1 of 2 verb
ˈhüp How to pronounce whoop (audio) ˈhu̇p How to pronounce whoop (audio)
least frequently for sense 2
ˈhwüp How to pronounce whoop (audio)
or
ˈhwu̇p How to pronounce whoop (audio)
1
: to shout or call loudly and energetically especially in enthusiasm or enjoyment
the children whooped with joy
2
: to make the sound that follows an attack of coughing in whooping cough

whoop

2 of 2 noun
1
: a whooping sound
2
: a loud booming cry of a bird (as an owl or crane)

Medical Definition

whoop

1 of 2 intransitive verb
: to make the characteristic whoop of whooping cough

whoop

2 of 2 noun
: the crowing intake of breath following a paroxysm in whooping cough

More from Merriam-Webster on whoop

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