droop

UK: /ˈdruːp/ US: /drup/ ,(dro̅o̅p)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

droop /drup/   v. 

1. to (cause to) sag, sink, or hang down, such as from exhaustion: [no object]
   The flowers drooped in the heat.
   [~ + object]
   an eagle drooping its wings.
2. to fall into a weakened or dispirited state;
   flag;
   fade:
   [no object] Our spirits drooped.

n. [countable]

3. a sagging, sinking, bending, or hanging down, as from lack of support:
   The droop of her shoulders told me immediately how the test had gone.

droop•i•ness, n. [uncountable]
droop•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est:

You look a little droopy; are you feeling OK?

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

droop  (dro̅o̅p), v.i. 

1. to sag, sink, bend, or hang down, as from weakness, exhaustion, or lack of support.
2. to fall into a state of physical weakness;
   flag;
   fail.
3. to lose spirit or courage.
4. to descend, as the sun;
   sink.

v.t. 

5. to let sink or drop:
   an eagle drooping its wings.

n. 

6. a sagging, sinking, bending, or hanging down, as from weakness, exhaustion, or lack of support.

• Old Norse drūpa; akin to drop
• Middle English drupen, drowpen 1300–50

droop′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. flag, languish.
• 2. weaken, decline, faint, wilt, wither, fade.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

droop / druːp/ verb

1. to sag or allow to sag, as from weakness or exhaustion; hang down; sink
2. (intransitive) to be overcome by weariness; languish; flag
3. (intransitive) to lose courage; become dejected

noun

1. the act or state of drooping

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norse drūpa; see drop

ˈdrooping adjective