whoops

[ hwoo ps, hwoops, woo ps, woops ]

/ ʰwʊps, ʰwups, wʊps, wups /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR whoops ON THESAURUS.COM

interjection

(used to express surprise, mild embarrassment, etc., or as a casual apology.)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

whooper swan, whooping cough, whooping cough vaccine, whooping crane, whoopla, whoops, whoopsie, whoosh, whoosis, whoosy, whoot

Origin of whoops

whoop + -s as in oops

Definition for whoops (2 of 2)

whoop

[ hoop, hoo p; especially for 1, 3, 4, 6–12 hwoop, hwoo p, woop, woo p ]

/ hup, hʊp; especially for 1, 3, 4, 6–12 ʰwup, ʰwʊp, wup, wʊp /

noun

a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.

the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.

verb (used without object)

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

interjection

(used as a cry to attract attention from afar, or to show excitement, encouragement, enthusiasm, etc.)

Verb Phrases

whoop up, Informal. to promote or praise; extol: a class reunion where they whoop up the good old days.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for whoops

Of course, this was greeted with a round of applause and whoops from her room of willingly incarcerated followers.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Private, intimate, dirty things are captured and then—whoops!
So You Want to be a Porn Star? Inside the Sex Tape Phenomenon|Aurora Snow|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All those roads and systems have to be maintained . . .and whoops!
Will the Young People Go Home Again?|Megan McArdle|June 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
More giddy people climb aboard, and again we erupt into applause and whoops.
Subway Euphoria|Jessi Klein|November 5, 2008|DAILY BEAST

It was toward the end of the afternoon that the Indians with them set up a loud and triumphant series of whoops.
The Pioneer Boys on the Missouri|Harrison Adams
This whim of Phonograph's was received with whoops of appreciation.
Rolling Stones|O. Henry
The whoops and pow-wowing and yells were thrilling enough to frighten even a man "tenderfoot."
On a Donkey's Hurricane Deck|R. Pitcher Woodward
At the catcalls and whoops of applause, Sard again held up her hand.
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock
At the same instant we heard a series of whoops and two shots in rapid succession from the direction of camp.
Gold|Stewart White

British Dictionary definitions for whoops (1 of 2)

whoops

/ (wʊps) /

interjection

an exclamation of surprise, as when a person falls over, or of apology

British Dictionary definitions for whoops (2 of 2)

whoop

/ (wuːp) /

verb

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
US to arouse enthusiasm

noun

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

Word Origin for whoop

C14: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for whoops (1 of 2)

whoops

exclamation of dismay, 1925; see oops.

Word Origin and History for whoops (1 of 2)

whoop

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.

whoops

interjection

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of whoops

Definition for whoops (2 of 2)

whoop

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

interjection

Verb Phrases

Origin of whoop

Examples from the Web for whoops

British Dictionary definitions for whoops (1 of 2)

whoops

interjection

British Dictionary definitions for whoops (2 of 2)

whoop

verb

noun

Word Origin for whoop

Word Origin and History for whoops (1 of 2)

whoops

Word Origin and History for whoops (1 of 2)

whoop

Medicine definitions for whoops

whoop

n.