whoop
[hoop, hoo p; especially for 1, 3, 4, 6–12 hwoop, hwoo p, woop, woo p]
- a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.
- the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.
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- to utter a loud cry or shout in expressing enthusiasm, excitement, etc.
- to cry as an owl, crane, or certain other birds.
- to make the characteristic sound accompanying the deep intake of air following a series of coughs in whooping cough.
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- to utter with or as if with a whoop.
- to whoop to or at.
- to call, urge, pursue, or drive with whoops: to whoop dogs on.
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- (used as a cry to attract attention from afar, or to show excitement, encouragement, enthusiasm, etc.)
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- whoop up, Informal. to promote or praise; extol: a class reunion where they whoop up the good old days.
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- not worth a whoop, Informal. to be worthless: Their promises aren't worth a whoop.
- whoop it up, Informal.
- to raise a disturbance, as to celebrate noisily: They whooped it up after winning the big game.
- to stir up enthusiasm, as for an idea or project: Every spring they whoop it up for the circus.
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Origin of whoop
1350–1400; Middle English whopen, Old English hwōpan to threaten; cognate with Gothic hwopan to boast
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for whoop
Contemporary Examples
In a spontaneous act of call and response, we all whoop and start clapping back, united by euphoria.
Historical Examples
It was the Indian whoop, which her father had taught her in their woodland rambles at home.
The Green Satin GownLaura E. Richards
But I think some of these people must have gone out of their minds to whoop it up so.
The Boy Scouts on Belgian BattlefieldsLieut. Howard Payson
For every whoop of the Hurons, the Iroquois give an angry yell of defiance.
It was terrible to leap and whoop and whistle; her very soul revolted.
The Very Small PersonAnnie Hamilton Donnell
All of the Emily gang set up a whoop of joy, and 'twas answered from the yacht.
Cape Cod StoriesJoseph C. Lincoln
whoop
- to utter (speech) with loud cries, as of enthusiasm or excitement
- med to cough convulsively with a crowing sound made at each inspiration
- (of certain birds) to utter (a hooting cry)
- (tr) to urge on or call with or as if with whoops
- whoop it up (wʊp, wuːp) informal
- to indulge in a noisy celebration
- USto arouse enthusiasm
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- a loud cry, esp one expressing enthusiasm or excitement
- med the convulsive crowing sound made during a paroxysm of whooping cough
- not worth a whoop informal worthless
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See also whoops
Word Origin
C14: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for whoop
v.
mid-14c., houpen, partly imitative, partly from Old French houper "to cry out," also imitative. It is attested as an interjection from at least mid-15c. The noun is recorded from c.1600. Extended form whoopee is attested from 1845, originally American English; whoopee cushion is attested from 1960. Phrase whoop it up "create a disturbance" is recorded from 1884. Expression whoop-de-do is recorded from 1929. Whooping cough (1739) is now the prevalent spelling of hooping cough; whooping crane is recorded from 1791.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
whoop
(hōōp, wōōp)- The paroxysmal gasp characteristic of whooping cough.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.