Word
drooping
Phoneticsdroop·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɹupɪŋ/
UK/dɹˈuːpɪŋ/
Definition
adj. hanging down low because of tiredness, heat, or lack of water. You see it in flowers that need water or shoulders that feel heavy.
adj. hanging or bending downward from weakness, tiredness, or lack of water or support. Commonly describes plants, eyelids, shoulders, or posture.
Examples
“The drooping flowers need some fresh water.”
“She watered the drooping plants on the balcony after the hot afternoon sun.”
“The old house stood with drooping shutters and sagging gutters that told of years without repair.”
Examples
simple
“The drooping flowers need some fresh water.”
contextual
“She watered the drooping plants on the balcony after the hot afternoon sun.”
complex
“The old house stood with drooping shutters and sagging gutters that told of years without repair.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies or after linking verbs like 'look' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Rags and sponges dried slowly on the edge of a giant sink, over which a pre-rinse nozzle drooped like a willow branch.” Etymology
From droop + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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