mope
verb (used without object)
to be sunk in dejection or listless apathy; sulk; brood.
moping
-
present participleof mope.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He doesn’t respond to his various wake-up calls with stubborn defiance but a curiosity that shifts his moping into something akin to a geeky, fun-loving second adolescence.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Instead of moping over the setback, Ohtani has started eyeing his next boundary-pushing maneuver: To be a leadoff hitter and high-leverage reliever in the same game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2025
As macho as the protagonist of a Lifetime movie, moping like an adolescent and watching too much TV, Mr. White’s Springsteen is clearly depressed, but Mr. Cooper’s script doesn’t provide much illumination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025
"My whole life turned upside down, and I spent ages moping and just sitting around," said the 34-year-old.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2025
“He needs to work. Ain’t no time for moping when horses need feeding and fences need mending.”
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
