hoop

1 of 2

noun

ˈhüp 

also

ˈhu̇p 

often attributive

1

: a circular strip used especially for holding together the staves of containers or as a plaything

2

a

: a circular figure or object : ring

b

: the rim of a basketball goal

broadly : the entire goal

3

: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt

4

: basketball

—usually used in plural

hooplike

ˈhüp-ˌlīk 

 also  ˈhu̇p

adjective

hoop

2 of 2

verb

hooped; hooping; hoops

transitive verb

: to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop

hooper noun

Synonyms

Noun

• band
• circle
• eye
• loop
• ring
• round

Examples of hoop in a Sentence

Noun

made Christmas garlands from hoops of red and green construction paper

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

State hoops Southern California teams went 5-5 at the state basketball championships in Sacramento. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025

Many college hoops fans are familiar with KenPom, a website run by the independent analyst Ken Pomeroy. —Tyler Foggatt, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025

Verb

And the best basketball player hooping it up on the world stage, no matter what ESPN says. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025

Despite the rising tension, the two immediately joked it off as Kai changed the topic over to whether or not Smith can actually hoop. —Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōp; akin to Middle Dutch hoep ring, hoop

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hoop

• cock-a-hoop
• hoop house

Rhymes for hoop

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

Kids Definition

hoop

noun

ˈhu̇p,

ˈhüp

1

: a circular band used for holding together the strips that make up the sides of a barrel

also : a similar band used as a toy

2

a

: a circular figure or object : ring

b

: the rim of a basketball goal

broadly : the entire goal

3

: basketball

—usually used in plural

4

: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt

hoop verb