droop

1 of 2

verb

ˈdrüp 

drooped; drooping; droops

intransitive verb

1

: to hang or incline downward

2

: to sink gradually

3

: to become depressed or weakened : languish

transitive verb

: to let droop

droopingly

ˈdrü-piŋ-lē 

adverb

droop

2 of 2

noun

: the condition or appearance of drooping

Synonyms of droop

Verb

• sag
• hang
• wilt

Noun

• slack
• slackness
• sag
• hang

Examples of droop in a Sentence

Verb

The flowers were drooping in the hot sun.

Her eyelids drooped as she grew tired.

The tree's branches drooped under the weight of the snow.

His spirits drooped when he didn't get the job.

Noun

tighten the line at the top of the banner so there won't be so much droop

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

North says to keep the soil moist and watch for drooping leaves, which indicate your tree needs a drink. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026

Heavy-duty gloves, paired up on polished surfaces or drooping from metal racks, tend to stand in for hands. — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 23 June 2026

Noun

Its petals turn brown, its stalk droops, and the plant disappears. — Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

Day after day, Lotte’s head droops, drops, sinks onto the proof sheet on her desk. — Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English drupen, from Old Norse drūpa; akin to Old English dropa drop

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for droop

• coop
• coupe
• croup
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop
• roop

Kids Definition

droop

1 of 2 verb

ˈdrüp 

1

: to sink, bend, or hang down

2

: to become depressed or weak

droopingly

ˈdrü-piŋ-lē 

adverb

droopy

ˈdrü-pē

adjective

droop

2 of 2 noun

: the condition or appearance of drooping