stoop
/stuːp/ (bre, ipa) · /stuːp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstüp/ (ame, mw)
stoop — verb
- stooppresent simple I / you / we / they
- stoopshe / she / it
- stoopedpast simple
- stooping-ing form
1. to bring the upper part of your body forward and toward the ground as a single d
to bring the upper part of your body forward and toward the ground as a single deliberate movement, usually so you can reach, pick up, or look at something low.
Lucas stooped to tie his daughter's shoelace before they crossed the road.
stoop + to-infinitive of purpose
Niran had to stoop low to fit through the small wooden door of the old shrine.
stoop low + to-infinitive showing reason
The gardener stooped down and pulled a long weed out of the flower bed.
Darius stooped to pick up a coin he had spotted on the pavement.
Henrik stooped over the baby's cot and gently stroked her cheek.
- straighten up
the natural opposite movement after stooping
文法句型
stoop to + verb
stoop down
用法筆記
Often followed by a to-infinitive that names the purpose of bending (stoop to pick up, stoop to look at). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is a single deliberate action, while sense 2 describes habitual posture.
常見錯誤
2. to hold yourself, when standing or moving around, in a way where the upper back
to hold yourself, when standing or moving around, in a way where the upper back curves forward so the back never looks fully straight.
Years of carrying heavy bags of rice had made Romi stoop noticeably.
habitual cause + stoop
Sade tends to stoop when she walks, so her physiotherapist gave her exercises for her back.
tend to + stoop describing a habit
The retired teacher stooped a little but still walked to the market every morning.
Asher had grown so tall that he stooped slightly in every doorway of the cottage.
- stand tall
describes an upright, straight posture
文法句型
stoop (no object)
用法筆記
Describes long-term posture rather than a single movement; commonly used with adverbs like slightly, badly, or noticeably. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense never takes a to-infinitive of purpose.
常見錯誤
3. to do something that is morally beneath you — for example, lying, cheating, or i
to do something that is morally beneath you — for example, lying, cheating, or insulting someone — because you have given up your usual sense of dignity.
Joaquín refused to stoop to lying about his rival's family during the election.
stoop to + verb-ing
I never thought Sahil would stoop so low as to steal from his own cousin.
stoop so low as to + verb
Xiu's editor stooped to copying paragraphs from another magazine to meet the deadline.
The senator promised her supporters that she would not stoop to personal attacks in the debate.
Even when business was bad, Lukas would never stoop to cheating his customers.
- lower oneself
very close; less literary, more conversational
- sink to
implies the act is the lowest point of a moral decline
- demean oneself
more formal; emphasises loss of dignity
- rise above
to refuse to act in the unworthy way
文法句型
stoop to + verb-ing or to-infinitive
stoop so low (as) to
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person whom the speaker considers respectable; the construction implies surprise or disappointment that they acted this way. Almost always followed by 'to' plus a description of the dishonorable act.
常見錯誤
stoop — noun
- stoopsingular
- stoopsplural
1. a small flat landing reached by a short flight of stairs outside a house's main
a small flat landing reached by a short flight of stairs outside a house's main door, often used as a place to sit and chat with neighbours.
Christopher and Nora sat on the stoop watching fireflies after dinner.
sit on the stoop (the typical activity)
Élise left the parcel on the stoop because no one was home to sign for it.
leave [object] on the stoop
Every Brooklyn brownstone on this block has its own painted iron railing along the stoop.
Léa shoveled the snow off the stoop before her grandmother came to visit.
- front steps
everyday equivalent in both British and American English
- porch
usually covered or roofed; a stoop is typically open to the sky
文法句型
on the stoop
sit on the stoop
用法筆記
Mostly used in American English, especially about row houses and brownstones in cities like New York; British speakers would more often say 'front step' or 'porch'. Almost always singular: 'the stoop' refers to the one belonging to that particular house.
常見錯誤
2. the bent shape of a person whose head and shoulders permanently lean a little fo
the bent shape of a person whose head and shoulders permanently lean a little forward, often caused by age, hard physical work, or illness.
Megan's grandfather walks with a slight stoop after years of working in the coal mine.
walk with a stoop (the standard collocation)
Vinícius has developed a stoop from spending long hours hunched over a sewing machine.
develop a stoop + from + cause
The old librarian's stoop made him look shorter than he actually was.
Hoa noticed a slight stoop in her father's back and booked him a physiotherapy appointment.
- upright posture
the opposite shape of carrying oneself
文法句型
have a stoop
walk with a stoop
用法筆記
Used as a singular noun with 'a', often modified by 'slight', 'pronounced' or 'noticeable'. The cause is usually given with 'from' or 'after' rather than 'because of'.