hoop

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: a circular strip used especially for holding together the staves of containers or as a plaything
2
a
: a circular figure or object : ring
b
: the rim of a basketball goal
broadly : the entire goal
3
: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt
4
: basketball
usually used in plural
hooplike
ˈhüp-ˌlīk How to pronounce hoop (audio)
 also  ˈhu̇p
adjective

hoop

2 of 2

verb

hooped; hooping; hoops

transitive verb

: to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop
hooper noun

Examples of hoop in a Sentence

Noun made Christmas garlands from hoops of red and green construction paper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Local boys hoops district winners include Lake Highland Prep, Lake Howell, Leesburg, Lake Mary, Windermere, Harmony, Foundation Academy and Olympia, which upset Oak Ridge on a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Johnny Gorches, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025 The popular pregame show will air live from Columbia, S.C. on Sunday, Feb. 16, one of three shows ahead of women’s college hoops showdowns this season. Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
As Butler’s drama with Miami has played out, there have been differing opinions about whether Riley, who has often recruited big names to hoop in South Florida, can maintain his touch if/when Butler moves on from the Heat. James Jackson, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 From the first time Venus and Serena Williams graced the pages of the magazine (as teens in Carolina Herrera circa 1998) to that afternoon Hamish Bowles hooped with Amar’e Stoudemire, take a look back on a history of athletes in Vogue. Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hoop 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōp; akin to Middle Dutch hoep ring, hoop

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoop was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hoop

Cite this Entry

“Hoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoop. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

hoop

noun
ˈhu̇p,
ˈhüp
1
: a circular band used for holding together the strips that make up the sides of a barrel
also : a similar band used as a toy
2
a
: a circular figure or object : ring
b
: the rim of a basketball goal
broadly : the entire goal
3
: basketball
usually used in plural
4
: a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt
hoop verb

More from Merriam-Webster on hoop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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