# hoop

/ˈhup/ (US) · /hˈuːp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hoop
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a circular band

noun · CEFR B1

a circular ring made of a hard material like metal, wood, or plastic.

For teachers: a circular band of metal, wood, or other stiff material used for binding, support, or decoration.

- The children were playing with a large plastic hoop in the garden.
- The cooper tightened the iron hoop around the wooden barrel to ensure it remained watertight during transport.

### 2. basketball equipment

noun · CEFR B1

the metal ring that players throw the ball through in basketball.

For teachers: the horizontal metal rim through which the ball must pass to score points in basketball.

- He practiced his aim by shooting the ball at the hoop for hours.
- The ball circled the hoop twice before finally dropping through, securing the team's victory in the final seconds.

### 3. the game of basketball

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a casual name for the game of basketball.

For teachers: a metonymic term for the game of basketball, typically used in plural form.

- Do you want to go to the park and play some hoops?
- Growing up in the city, they spent every summer afternoon playing hoops at the local community courts.

### 4. a difficult task

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a series of difficult or annoying things you must do to achieve something.

For teachers: a figurative obstacle or bureaucratic requirement that must be satisfied to reach a goal; usually in the phrase 'jump through hoops'.

- I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my work visa.
- The bank made us jump through hoops just to open a simple savings account, requiring endless paperwork and multiple interviews.

### 5. earring style

noun · CEFR B1

a type of earring that is shaped like a large circle.

For teachers: a circular earring that passes through the earlobe, varying in diameter and thickness.

- She wore large gold hoops that brushed against her shoulders.
- The fashion designer paired the minimalist outfits with oversized silver hoops to add a touch of geometric interest.

### 6. to play basketball

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

to play the game of basketball.

For teachers: to participate in a game of basketball; an informal intransitive use.

- We used to hoop every day after school until it got dark.
- Despite his injury, he was eager to get back on the court and start hooping with his teammates again.

### 7. to encircle

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to put a ring around something or to fasten it with a band.

For teachers: to bind or fasten something with a hoop; to encircle or surround.

- The workers had to hoop the crates securely before shipping them.
- The ancient pillars were hooped with bronze bands to prevent the stone from cracking further under the weight of the roof.

## Examples

- She spun the plastic hoop around her waist.
- The basketball player jumped high and slammed the ball through the hoop to win the game.
- The gymnast moved with incredible grace, passing her entire body through the silver hoop while suspended several meters above the stage.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.