Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stoops, present participle stooping, past tense, past participle stooped
1. verb
If you stoop, you stand or walk with your shoulders bent forwards.
She was taller than he was and stooped slightly. [VERB]
Synonyms: hunch, walk with a stoop, be bowed or round-shouldered More Synonyms of stoop
Stoop is also a noun.
He was a tall, thin fellow with a slight stoop.
stoopingadjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
...a slender slightly stooping American.
2. verb
If you stoop, you bend your body forwards and downwards.
He stooped to pick up the carrier bag of groceries. [VERB]
Two men in shirt sleeves stooped over the car. [VERB + over]
Stooping down, he picked up a big stone and hurled it. [Vdown/over]
Synonyms: bend, lean, bow, duck More Synonyms of stoop
3. verb
If you say that a person stoopsto doing something, you are criticizing them because they do something wrong or immoral that they would not normally do.
[disapproval]
He had not, until recently, stooped to personal abuse. [VERB + to]
They've stooped to using any and every weapon at their disposal. [Vto n/-ing]
How could anyone stoop so low? [VERB adjective]
4. countable noun
A stoop is a small platform at the door of a building, with steps leading up to it.
[US]
They stood together on the stoop and rang the bell.
Synonyms: slouch, slump, droop, sag More Synonyms of stoop
stoop in British English1
(stuːp)
verb(mainly intr)
1. (also tr)
to bend (the body or the top half of the body) forward and downward
2.
to carry oneself with head and shoulders habitually bent forward
3. (often foll by to)
to abase or degrade oneself
4. (often foll by to)
to condescend; deign
5.
(of a bird of prey) to swoop down
6. archaic
to give in
noun
7.
the act, position, or characteristic of stooping
8.
a lowering from a position of dignity or superiority
9.
a downward swoop, esp of a bird of prey
Derived forms
stooper (ˈstooper)
noun
stooping (ˈstooping)
adjective
stoopingly (ˈstoopingly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English stūpan; related to Middle Dutch stupen to bow, Old Norse stūpa, Norwegian stupa to fall; see steep1
stoop in British English2
(stuːp)
noun
US and Canadian
a small platform with steps up to it at the entrance to a building
Word origin
C18: from Dutch stoep, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stuofa stair, Old English stōpel footprint; see step
stoop in British English3
(stuːp)
noun
archaic
a pillar or post
Word origin
C15: variant of dialect stulpe, probably from Old Norse stolpe; see stele
stoop in British English4
(stuːp)
noun
a less common spelling of stoup
stoop in American English1
(stup)
verb intransitive
1.
to bend the body forward or in a crouch
2.
to carry the head and shoulders or the upper part of the body habitually bent forward
3.
a.
to condescend, or deign
b.
to demean or degrade oneself
4.
to pounce or swoop down, as a bird of prey
5. Archaic
to yield or submit
verb transitive
6.
to bend (the head, etc.) forward
7. Archaic
to humble or debase
noun
8.
the act or position of stooping the body, esp. habitually
9.
the act of condescending
10.
a swoop, as by a hawk at prey
SYNONYMY NOTE: stoop1, in this connection, implies a descending in dignity, as by committing some shamefulor immoral act [to stoop to cheating]; condescend implies a voluntary descent by one high in rank, power, etc. to act graciously oraffably toward one regarded as his inferior [the general condescended to talk with the private]; deign is usually used in negative constructions or with such qualifications as hardly, barely, etc. and, hence, connotes unwilling or arrogant condescension [she scarcely deigned to answer me]
Derived forms
stooper (ˈstooper)
noun
stoopingly (ˈstoopingly)
adverb
Word origin
ME stupen < OE stupian, akin to ON stūpa < IE *(s)teup- < base *(s)teu-, to strike > stock
stoop in American English2
(stup)
US
noun
a small porch or platform with steps and, orig., seats, at the door of a house
Word origin
Du stoep, akin to Ger stufe: for IE base see step
Examples of 'stoop' in a sentence
stoop
It is impossible to understand how anyone could stoop so low.
The Sun (2011)
By stooping this low he has brought shame on our badge.
The Sun (2006)
When he had done it he stooped and picked up something.
E. Nesbit The Treasure Seekers (1899)
The shabby man stooped and took off his boots.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
One woman threw down a rupee and stooped to pick up change.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
But he was a slight man with a stoop and a nervous disposition.
Lisa Jardine THE CURIOUS LIFE OF ROBERT HOOKE: The Man who Measured London (2003)
As she stooped to pick it up the blood rushed to her face.
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth (1905)
Also available is a handle and wheel set that allows you to trim grass edges without stooping or bending.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
How could anyone stoop so low?
The Sun (2009)
The veteran striker stooped to head the opener in 32 minutes.
The Sun (2013)
His shoulders were round; or else he had a perpetual stoop in them.
Christopher Hibbert DISRAELI: A Personal History (2004)
You must have slowed your step for me and stooped slightly, to reach my hand.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Then as we overtook them, the young man stooped down and tenderly undid her buckles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Doctor stooped and picked it up.
Hugh Lofting The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920)
Pitt stooped and picked them up, amazed at so much wealth.
William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837)
WHY do some celebrities stoop so low in the name of promotion?
The Sun (2013)
Can he stoop any lower?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At no time would I want to stoop to degrade anyone.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He walked with a stoop, his head hung low, his eyes trained on the floor.
Louise Carpenter AN UNLIKELY COUNTESS: Lily Budge and the 13th Earl of Galloway (2004)
To stoop so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief,' he wrote.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What you also know, though, is that the stooped figure with the scythe is not that scary after all.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
stoop
British English: stoop VERB
If you stoop, you stand or walk with your shoulders bent forwards.