stoop

UK: /ˈstuːp/ US: /stup/ ,(sto̅o̅p)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stoop¹ /stup/   v. 

1. to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward: [no object]
   The basketball player had to stoop when climbing into the bus.
   [~ + object]
   He stooped his head a little when he climbed on the bus.
2. to lower oneself from one's normal level of dignity and do something considered improper, dishonest, etc.: [no object]
   I would never stoop so low that I would take money from my own children.
   [~ + to + object]
   You wouldn't think he would stoop to such treachery.
   [~ + to + verb-ing]
   Would he stoop to stealing money from his own children?

n. [countable]

3. an act or instance of stooping.
4. a stooping position of the body;
   a way of carrying the body at a low angle:
   to walk with a stoop.

stoop² /stup/   n. [countable]

1. Building a raised platform or porch, esp. a small porch with steps, at the entrance of a house:
   We sat on the stoop and talked.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stoop¹ (sto̅o̅p),  v.i. 

1. to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward from an erect position:
   to stoop over a desk.
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. [Obs.] to come down from a height.

v.t. 

8. to bend (oneself, one's head, etc.) forward and downward.
9. [Archaic.] to abase, humble, or subdue.

n. 

10. the act or an instance of stooping.
11. a stooping position or carriage of body:
    The elderly man walked with a stoop.
12. a descent from dignity or superiority.
13. a downward swoop, as of a hawk.

• bef. 900; Middle English stoupen (verb, verbal), Old English stūpian; cognate with Middle Dutch stūpen to bend, bow; akin to steep¹

stoop′er, n. 
stoop′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. lean, crouch. See bend ¹.

stoop² (sto̅o̅p), n. 

1. Building a small raised platform, approached by steps and sometimes having a roof and seats, at the entrance of a house;
   a small porch.

• Dutch stoep; cognate with Middle Low German stōpe, German Stufe step in a stair. See step
• 1670–80, American.

stoop³ (sto̅o̅p), n. 

1. stoup.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stoop / stuːp/ verb (mainly intr)

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 followed by to) to abase or degrade oneself
4. (often followed by to) to condescend; deign
5. (of a bird of prey) to swoop down

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

Etymology: Old English stūpan; related to Middle Dutch stupen to bow, Old Norse stūpa, Norwegian stupa to fall; see steep¹

ˈstooping adjective

stoop / stuːp/ noun

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

Etymology: 18th Century: from Dutch stoep, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stuofa stair, Old English stōpel footprint; see step

stoop / stuːp/ noun

1. a less common spelling of stoup

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stoup (sto̅o̅p),  n. 

1. Religion a basin for holy water, as at the entrance of a church.
2. Scottish Terms a pail or bucket.
3. Scottish Terms
   • a drinking vessel, as a cup or tankard, of various sizes.
   • the amount it holds.

• Old Norse staup drinking vessel; cognate with Old English stēap flagon
• Middle English stowp 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stoup, stoop / stuːp/ noun

1. a small basin for holy water
2. Also: stowp a bucket or drinking vessel

Etymology: 14th Century (in the sense: bucket): of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse staup beaker, Old English stēap flagon; see steep¹