whoop

American  

[hwoop, hwoop, woop, woop] / ʰwup, ʰwʊp, wup, wʊp /

noun

1. a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.

2. the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud cry or shout in expressing enthusiasm, excitement, etc.

2. to cry as an owl, crane, or certain other birds.

3. to make the characteristic sound accompanying the deep intake of air following a series of coughs in whooping cough.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with or as if with a whoop.

2. to whoop to or at.

3. to call, urge, pursue, or drive with whoops.

   to whoop dogs on.

interjection

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

verb phrase

1. whoop up to promote or praise; extol.

   a class reunion where they whoop up the good old days.

idioms

1. whoop it up,

   1. to raise a disturbance, as to celebrate noisily.

      They whooped it up after winning the big game.

   2. to stir up enthusiasm, as for an idea or project.

      Every spring they whoop it up for the circus.

2. not worth a whoop, to be worthless.

   Their promises aren't worth a whoop.

whoop British  

/ wuːp /

verb

1. to utter (speech) with loud cries, as of enthusiasm or excitement

2. med to cough convulsively with a crowing sound made at each inspiration

3. (of certain birds) to utter (a hooting cry)

4. (tr) to urge on or call with or as if with whoops

5. informal

   1. to indulge in a noisy celebration

   2. to arouse enthusiasm

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noun

1. a loud cry, esp one expressing enthusiasm or excitement

2. med the convulsive crowing sound made during a paroxysm of whooping cough

3. informal worthless

Etymology

Origin of whoop

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

Explanation

A whoop is a noise you make when you're celebrating something exciting. Just listen to the whoops and cheers from the crowd when your school's basketball team unexpectedly wins the championship! The joyful hooting of friends hearing your good news, the cheers of fans celebrating a bowler's strike, or the call of a cowboy urging a horse forward — these are all whoops. You can use this word as a verb too, as when you whoop with joy or laughter, or in the colloquial phrase whoop it up, meaning "have a blast." Whoop sometimes also used for the distinctive cough of someone suffering from pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Example Sentences

Several years ago, on a cross-Atlantic literary festival where Shriver was an invited author, I observed a packed audience whoop and cheer Shriver’s mordant observations about everything wrong with the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

On 13 April, fans are being encouraged to "dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

As the male lead entered the stage in a new production of “Romeo and Juliet” in London, a single, very loud whoop erupted from the orchestra level.

From New York Times • May 24, 2024

Blowing a kiss, she added, “Don’t forget to whoop it while you’re in Wisconsin. Have some cheese curds.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2024

The snow goose called again, a piercing whoop that filled the sky, and then wheeled and turned an inch away from the boy in the striped T-shirt.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• boo
• hoot
• howl
• jeer
• shriek
• squawk