hoop

American  

[hoop, hoop] / hup, hʊp /

noun

1. a circular band or ring of metal, wood, or other stiff material.

2. such a band for holding together the staves of a cask, tub, etc.

3. a large ring of iron, wood, plastic, etc., used as a plaything for a child to roll along the ground.

4. a circular or ringlike object, part, figure, etc.

5. Jewelry. the shank of a finger ring.

6. Croquet. a wicket.

7. a circular band of stiff material used to expand and display a woman's skirt.

8. hoop skirt.

9. Basketball Informal.

   1. the metal ring from which the net is suspended; rim.

   2. the metal ring and net taken together; the basket.

   3. the game of basketball.

10. a decorative band, as around a mug or cup.

11. hoop iron.

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verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop or hoops.

2. to encircle; surround.

hoop ¹ British  

/ huːp /

noun

1. a rigid circular band of metal or wood

2. something resembling this

3. 1. a band of iron that holds the staves of a barrel or cask together

   2. ( as modifier )

      hoop iron

4. a child's toy shaped like a hoop and rolled on the ground or whirled around the body

5. croquet any of the iron arches through which the ball is driven

6. 1. a light curved frame to spread out a skirt

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hoop skirt

      a hoop petticoat

7. basketball the round metal frame to which the net is attached to form the basket

8. a large ring through which performers or animals jump

9. jewellery

   1. an earring consisting of one or more circles of metal, plastic, etc

   2. the part of a finger ring through which the finger fits

10. informal a jockey

11. to be subjected to an ordeal

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verb

1. (tr) to surround with or as if with a hoop

hoop ² British  

/ huːp /

noun

1. a variant spelling of whoop

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hoop Idioms  

1. see jump through hoops.

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Other Word Forms

• hooped
  adjective
• hoopless
  adjective
• hooplike
  adjective
• unhooped
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoop

1125–75; Middle English hope, hoop, late Old English hōp; cognate with Dutch hoep

Explanation

A hoop is a ring or circle made of some stiff material. Gardeners use hoops to support plants, and many people wear hoops around their wrists as bracelets. You can try to toss a basketball through a hoop, wear gold hoops as earrings, or sport an old fashioned hoop skirt, a flexible band that widens a petticoat and the skirt covering it. You can also rotate and spin a hula hoop around your body for fun. If your boss makes you "jump through hoops" at work, it means she requires you to complete difficult, possibly unnecessary, tasks.

Example Sentences

But the ball was tipped back to him and Walker was able to send a last-second shot through the hoop for two game-winning points.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Crystal Nerone has made repeated trips to the one-stop center to understand in advance every hoop they’ll have to jump through.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

She wore a yellow knit beanie, gold hoop earrings and the relieved grin of a woman who has finally checked a mammogram off her to-do list.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Brothers Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale got their start in 1872 selling hoop skirts, corsets and other women’s fashions on New York’s Lower East Side.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Aaron took a jump shot and the ball arced gracefully into the hoop.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Related Words

• basket
• rim