stoop

¹

[ stoop ]

verb (used without object)

1. to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward from an erect position:

   to stoop over a desk.

   Synonyms: crouch, lean

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. Obsolete. to come down from a height.

verb (used with object)

1. to bend (oneself, one's head, etc.) forward and downward.
2. Archaic. to abase, humble, or subdue.

noun

1. the act or an instance of stooping.
2. a stooping position or carriage of body:

   The elderly man walked with a stoop.

3. a descent from dignity or superiority.
4. a downward swoop, as of a hawk.

stoop

²

[ stoop ]

noun

1. a small porch or platform at the entrance to a house, or the steps leading up to it.

stoop

³

[ stoop ]

noun

1. stoup.

stoop

¹

/ stuːp /

verb

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 foll by to to abase or degrade oneself
4. often foll by to to condescend; deign
5. (of a bird of prey) to swoop down
6. archaic.
   to give in

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

stoop

²

/ stuːp /

noun

1. a less common spelling of stoup

stoop

³

/ stuːp /

noun

1. archaic.
   a pillar or post

stoop

⁴

/ stuːp /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstooping, adjective
• ˈstoopingly, adverb
• ˈstooper, noun

Other Words From

• stooper noun
• stooping·ly adverb
• non·stooping adjective
• un·stooped adjective
• un·stooping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoop¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stoupen, stupen, Old English stūpian; cognate with Middle Dutch stūpen “to bend, bow”; akin to steep ¹

Origin of stoop²

An Americanism dating back to 1670–80; from Dutch stoep; cognate with Middle Low German stōpe, German Stufe “step (in a stair)”; step

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoop¹

Old English stūpan; related to Middle Dutch stupen to bow, Old Norse stūpa, Norwegian stupa to fall; see steep ¹

Origin of stoop²

C15: variant of dialect stulpe, probably from Old Norse stolpe; see stele

Origin of stoop³

C18: from Dutch stoep, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stuofa stair, Old English stōpel footprint; see step

Synonym Study

See bend ¹.

Example Sentences

It is tragic that the Washington Post, which once employed Ben Bagdikian would stoop to showing cowardice in the face of this historic challenge.

From Salon

“Keep the farmer in Congress!” he told a resident as he left their stoop.

From Los Angeles Times

Once the excavator moved away, the Red Cross workers stepped gingerly onto the mound of rubble, their backs stooped as they examined what remained of lives lived in what had been seven apartments.

From Los Angeles Times

Living near Little Tokyo, I’m in the area often, but never has it felt so active — every location, sidewalk and stoop is potentially part of the story.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, the emotional acuity of a writer who felt things too deeply to stoop to cheap sentiment comes through.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crouch
• hunch
• squat