# whoops

/ˈhwups/ (US) · /wˈuːps/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. acknowledging a mistake

interjection · CEFR B1 · Informal

you say this when you make a small mistake, drop something, or have a minor accident.

For teachers: an exclamation used to acknowledge a minor slip, mistake, or clumsy act.

- Whoops, I didn't mean to spill my coffee on your desk.
- Whoops, I seem to have sent that confidential email to the entire department by mistake.

Usage: Typically used as a standalone exclamation immediately following a minor accident.

### 2. making a loud cry

verb · CEFR B2

to make a loud, excited shout or cry.

For teachers: the third-person singular present form of 'whoop', meaning to utter a loud cry of excitement or joy.

- Every time the team scores, he whoops with joy.
- The crowd whoops and cheers as the performer takes the stage for the final encore.

Usage: The third-person singular form of the verb 'whoop'.

### 4. to vomit

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

to be sick or throw up.

For teachers: to eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth.

- He had too much to drink and spent the night whoopsing.
- After the rough boat ride, several passengers were whoopsing over the side of the deck.

Teaching tip: This sense is very informal and potentially gross; learners should use 'be sick' or 'vomit' in most situations.

## Examples

- Whoops, I almost spilled my coffee on the table.
- Whoops, I didn't realize I was on mute while I was talking to the team.
- The intern let out a quiet 'whoops' as the stack of papers slid off the desk and scattered across the floor, drawing a few sympathetic smiles from colleagues.

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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.