whoops

American

[hwoops, hwoops, woops, woops] / ʰwʊps, ʰwups, wʊps, wups /

Sometimes woops

interjection

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

whoops British

/ wʊps /

interjection

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of whoops

whoop + -s as in oops

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.

After each one emerged from the water, there were whoops and songs of joy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

The theatrics seemed to work, as a membership sometimes mocked for its mild-mannered approach got to its collective feet and filled the air with whoops of approval and the flutter of hundreds of mini flags.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2025

The whoops were especially loud for editorial cartoons featuring Sanders and for screen grabs of headlines from across the country as his national profile rose.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

And he donned a shiny red helmet to the whoops and cheers of a pack of football players and fans.

From New York Times • May 31, 2024

More pounding fists, this time accompanied by whoops.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023