droop
/druːp/ (bre, ipa) · /druːp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdrüp/ (ame, mw)
droop — verb
- drooppresent simple I / you / we / they
- droopshe / she / it
- droopedpast simple
- drooping-ing form
1. to bend, sink, or sag downwards, especially when something becomes weak, tired,
to bend, sink, or sag downwards, especially when something becomes weak, tired, or can no longer support its own weight.
The white lilies in Fatima's kitchen began to droop after three days without water.
collocation: flowers droop from lack of water
Grandpa Walter's eyelids drooped halfway through the long graduation speech.
collocation: eyelids droop (sleepiness or boredom)
The heavy snow made every branch on the old maple tree droop towards the ground.
The kite string drooped suddenly when the wind died down over the lake.
After hiking for six hours, Chioma's shoulders drooped and her pace slowed to a shuffle.
- perk up
regain stiffness, freshness, or upright position
- straighten
return to an upright, unbent shape
用法筆記
Subject is typically something flexible or living — flowers, eyelids, shoulders, branches, kite strings. Distinguished from sense 2 (SPIRITS FALL), which describes mood or energy rather than physical position.
常見錯誤
2. to feel suddenly less happy, hopeful, or lively — used especially of someone's m
to feel suddenly less happy, hopeful, or lively — used especially of someone's mood, confidence, or energy.
Omar's spirits drooped when he read the rejection email from his dream university.
collocation: spirits droop at bad news
The children's energy drooped noticeably after the birthday cake had all been eaten.
Mei felt her confidence droop as the interview questions grew harder and harder.
The crowd's excitement drooped the moment the lead singer announced the band was splitting up.
Dev could feel his enthusiasm droop after staring at the same spreadsheet for eight long hours.
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively of emotional states — spirits, mood, confidence, energy, enthusiasm — not physical objects. The subject is the feeling itself, never the person: say 'his spirits drooped,' not 'he drooped.'
常見錯誤
droop — noun
1. a shape or position that hangs down loosely, as if tired or lacking support.
a shape or position that hangs down loosely, as if tired or lacking support.
Kwame noticed a slight droop in the roof of the old barn after the storm.
collocation: a droop in [structure]
The gardener propped up the tomato plant with a stick to fix its downward droop.
There was a tired droop to Isabela's walk as she climbed the last flight of stairs.
The tailor adjusted the jacket to remove the droop at the back of the shoulders.
用法筆記
Less common than the verb forms. Typically follows 'a' plus an adjective that describes the kind of sagging (slight, tired, downward, noticeable).