verb
Uncommon
stoop
stoop
Stoop (verb) means to bend the body forward and down. Example: “He had to stoop to get through the low doorway.”
verb
1
To bend the body forward and down.
"He had to stoop to get through the low doorway."
"She stooped to pick up the dropped keys."
2
To lower oneself morally by doing something beneath one's standards.
"I never thought he'd stoop to lying about his own colleagues."
noun
1
A small staircase or platform leading up to a house entrance, especially in American row houses.
"Neighbours sat out on their stoops on warm summer evenings."
How to use stoop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBending your body down, or (figuratively) lowering yourself to do something wrong; also, US English for the steps up to a front door.
UK vs US
The porch-steps sense ("stoop") is chiefly American, especially in New York; British English would usually just say "steps" or "doorstep".
Common pairings
stoop to conquer
stoop down
sit on the stoop
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Word forms
- Plural
- stoops
- Third person singular
- stoops
- Past tense
- stooped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He had to _____ to get through the low doorway.
Etymology
From Old English stūpian ("to bow, bend"), a Germanic word related to Dutch stuipen and Old Norse stúpa, both meaning to bend forward.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for stoop
See all rhymes for stoop →Frequently asked questions
What does “stoop” mean?
The word “stoop” means to bend the body forward and down. In plain terms, bending your body down, or (figuratively) lowering yourself to do something wrong; also, US English for the steps up to a front door.
How do you pronounce “stoop”?
“Stoop” is pronounced stoop (/stup/ in IPA).
How do you use “stoop” in a sentence?
Here is “stoop” used in a sentence: “He had to stoop to get through the low doorway.”
What is another word for “stoop”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stoop” include bend down, crouch and squat.
What part of speech is “stoop”?
Depending on how it is used, “stoop” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stoop” come from?
The word “stoop” comes from Old English. From Old English stūpian ("to bow, bend"), a Germanic word related to Dutch stuipen and Old Norse stúpa, both meaning to bend forward.
Is “stoop” a common word?
“Stoop” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stoop” have?
“Stoop” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bend the body forward and down.
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