stoop

1 of 3

verb

ˈstüp 

stooped; stooping; stoops

intransitive verb

1

a

: to bend the body or a part of the body forward and downward sometimes simultaneously bending the knees

b

: to stand or walk with a forward inclination of the head, body, or shoulders

2

: yield, submit

3

a

: to descend from a superior rank, dignity, or status

b

: to lower oneself morally

stooped to lying

4

a

archaic : to move down from a height : alight

b

: to fly or dive down swiftly usually to attack prey

transitive verb

1

: debase, degrade

2

: to bend (a part of the body) forward and downward

stoop

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: an act of bending the body forward

b

: a temporary or habitual forward bend of the back and shoulders

2

: the descent of a bird especially on its prey

3

: a lowering of oneself

stoop

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda at a house door

Synonyms

Verb

• condescend
• deign

Noun (2)

• gallery [Southern & Midland]
• lanai
• piazza [dialect]
• porch
• veranda
• verandah

Examples of stoop in a Sentence

Verb

She stooped down to hug the child.

He had to stoop to pick it up.

He tends to stoop as he walks.

He really did that? I didn't think he could stoop so low.

Noun (2)

the stoop at the front entrance is just big enough to shield a resident from the elements as he fumbles for his keys

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Twelve seconds into the footage, Harris punches McAlpin, who stoops downward. —Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Keep items at waist height and where they will be used, to avoid stooping and stretching. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2024

Noun

Will’s teenage son is newly out as trans, now named Evie (Ivy O’Brien), showing up later in the film on the two-flat’s stoop, looking for some support and understanding. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2024

The essentially inedible, toothless-grin-bearing, orange orb fruit that graces so many front stoops this time of year is a bit of a plant breeding anomaly. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English stoupen, from Old English stūpian; akin to Swedish stupa to fall, plunge, Old English stēap steep, deep

Noun (2)

Dutch stoep; akin to Old English stæpe step — more at step

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1755, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stoop

• descend/sink/stoop to someone's level
• stoop labor

Kids Definition

stoop

1 of 3 verb

ˈstüp 

1

a

: to bend down or over

b

: to stand or walk with the head and shoulders or the upper part of the body bent forward

2

: to degrade oneself

stoop to lying

stoop

2 of 3 noun

1

: an act of bending the body forward

2

: a forward bend of the back and shoulders that is temporary or by habit

stoop

3 of 3 noun

: a porch, platform, or entrance stairway at a house door

Etymology

Verb

Old English stūpian "to stoop, bend over"

Noun

from Dutch stoep "porch, stoop"