stoop

¹

[stoop]

verb (used without object)

1. to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward from an erect position.

   to stoop over a desk.

   Synonyms: crouch, lean

2. to carry the head and shoulders habitually bowed forward.

   to stoop from age.

3. (of trees, precipices, etc.) to bend, bow, or lean.

4. to descend from one's level of dignity; condescend; deign.

   Don't stoop to argue with him.

5. to swoop down, as a hawk at prey.

6. to submit; yield.

7. Obsolete.,  to come down from a height.

verb (used with object)

1. to bend (oneself, one's head, etc.) forward and downward.

2. Archaic.,  to abase, humble, or subdue.

noun

1. the act or an instance of stooping.

2. a stooping position or carriage of body.

   The elderly man walked with a stoop.

3. a descent from dignity or superiority.

4. a downward swoop, as of a hawk.

stoop

²

[stoop]

noun

1. a small porch or platform at the entrance to a house, or the steps leading up to it.

stoop

³

[stoop]

noun

1. stoup.

stoop

¹

/ stuːp /

verb

1. (also tr) to bend (the body or the top half of the body) forward and downward

2. to carry oneself with head and shoulders habitually bent forward

3. (often foll by to) to abase or degrade oneself

4. (often foll by to) to condescend; deign

5. (of a bird of prey) to swoop down

6. archaic,  to give in

noun

1. the act, position, or characteristic of stooping

2. a lowering from a position of dignity or superiority

3. a downward swoop, esp of a bird of prey

stoop

²

/ stuːp /

noun

1. a small platform with steps up to it at the entrance to a building

stoop

³

/ stuːp /

noun

1. archaic,  a pillar or post

stoop

⁴

/ stuːp /

noun

1. a less common spelling of stoup

Other Word Forms

• stooper noun
• stoopingly adverb
• nonstooping adjective
• unstooped adjective
• unstooping adjective
• stooping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoop¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stoupen, stupen, Old English stūpian; cognate with Middle Dutch stūpen “to bend, bow”; akin to steep ¹

Origin of stoop²

An Americanism dating back to 1670–80; from Dutch stoep; cognate with Middle Low German stōpe, German Stufe “step (in a stair)”; step

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoop¹

Old English stūpan; related to Middle Dutch stupen to bow, Old Norse stūpa, Norwegian stupa to fall; see _steep ¹

Origin of stoop²

C18: from Dutch stoep, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stuofa stair, Old English stōpel footprint; see _step

Origin of stoop³

C15: variant of dialect stulpe, probably from Old Norse stolpe; see _stele

Synonym Study

See bend ¹.

Example Sentences

He stooped to retrieve a fancy carved walking stick that was propped against one of the balloon’s anchoring stakes.

Read more on Literature

As it turned out, the doorway already had an inhabitant: a stooped, ancient woman who blended effortlessly into the shadows.

Read more on Literature

Cultivating a large garden, too, was difficult work—stooping over long rows of peas or collard greens, or keeping the rabbits or deer from eating your food.

Read more on Literature

Relating his journey to becoming a visual storyteller, Thomas recalled growing up in “one of the worst slums of Philadelphia,” sitting on his front stoop reading Shakespeare, James Baldwin and Tennessee Williams, immersed and transported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

DNA is a snooty aristocrat, never stooping to engage in day-to-day tasks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crouch 
• hunch 
• squat