whoops

UK: /ˈ^hwʊps/ US: (hwŏŏps, hwo̅o̅ps, wŏŏps, wo̅o̅ps)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

whoops  (hwŏŏps, hwo̅o̅ps, wŏŏps, wo̅o̅ps), interj. 

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

• whoop + -s as in oops

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whoops, woops / wʊps/, whoops-a-daisy interjection

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

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

whoop /hwup, hwʊp, wup, wʊp; esp. for 2. hup, hʊp/   n. 

[countable]
1. a loud cry or shout, as of excitement.
2. Pathology a deep inhaling of air with a hollow, gasping sound following a fit of coughing.

v. 

3. to utter with, or make, a loud cry or shout: [no object]
   The kids whooped and danced at the good news.
   [used with quotations]
   "Yahoo!'' they whooped, "we're out of here!''

Idioms

4. Idioms whoop it up, [Informal.] to celebrate noisily.

whoop•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

whoop  (ho̅o̅p, hŏŏp; esp. for 1, 3–5, 7–12 hwo̅o̅p, hwŏŏp, wo̅o̅p, wŏŏp), n. 

1. a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.
2. Pathology the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.
3. not worth a whoop, [Informal.] to be worthless:
   Their promises aren't worth a whoop.

v.i. 

4. to utter a loud cry or shout in expressing enthusiasm, excitement, etc.
5. Animal Behavior to cry as an owl, crane, or certain other birds.
6. to make the characteristic sound accompanying the deep intake of air following a series of coughs in whooping cough.

v.t. 

7. to utter with or as if with a whoop.
8. to whoop to or at.
9. to call, urge, pursue, or drive with whoops:
   to whoop dogs on.
10. 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.
11. whoop up, [Informal.] to promote or praise;
    extol:
    a class reunion where they whoop up the good old days.

interj. 

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

• 1350–1400; Middle English whopen, Old English hwōpan to threaten; cognate with Gothic hwopan to boast

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whoop / wuːp/ verb

1. to utter (speech) with loud cries, as of enthusiasm or excitement
2. to cough convulsively with a crowing sound made at each inspiration
3. (of certain birds) to utter (a hooting cry)
4. (transitive) to urge on or call with or as if with whoops
5. whoop it up / wʊp wuːp/ ⇒ to indulge in a noisy celebration
6. to arouse enthusiasm

noun

1. a loud cry, esp one expressing enthusiasm or excitement
2. the convulsive crowing sound made during a paroxysm of whooping cough
3. not worth a whoop ⇒ worthless

Etymology: 14th Century: of imitative origin