# hoop

> English word · Noun · IPA /huːp/ · frequency rank #16,934

## Definitions
1. A circular band of metal used to bind a barrel.
2. Any circular band or ring.
3. A circular band of metal, wood, or similar material used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent.
4. A circle, or combination of circles, of thin whalebone, metal, or other elastic material, used for expanding the skirts of ladies' dresses; (hence, by extension) a hoop petticoat or hoop skirt.
5. A quart-pot; so called because originally bound with hoops, like a barrel. Also, a portion of the contents measured by the distance between the hoops.
6. An old measure of capacity, variously estimated at from one to four pecks.
7. The rim part of a basketball net.
8. The game of basketball.
9. A hoop earring.
10. A horizontal stripe on the jersey.
11. A jockey.
12. An obstacle that must be overcome in order to proceed.
13. Hooping (manipulation of and artistic movement or dancing with a hoop).
14. A significant amount of swing from the bowler.
15. An apparatus.
16. An apparatus.

## Etymology
From Middle English hoop, hoope, from Old English hōp (“mound, raised land; in combination, circular object”), from Proto-Germanic *hōpą (“bend, bow, arch”) (compare Saterland Frisian Houp (“hoop”), Dutch hoep (“hoop”), Old Norse hóp (“bay, inlet”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kāb- (“to bend”) (compare Lithuanian kabė (“hook”), Old Church Slavonic кѫпъ (kǫpŭ, “hill, island”)). More at camp.

## Easily confused with
- **HP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hp)
- **how** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-how)
- **hot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hot)
- **hop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hop)
- **Hou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hou)
- **hoy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hoy)
- **hos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hos)
- **hor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hor)
- **HOV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hov)
- **hope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hope)
- **hour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hour)
- **HTTP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-http)
- **host** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-host)
- **horn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-horn)
- **hose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hose)
- **Howe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-howe)
- **hump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hump)
- **howl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-howl)
- **hove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hove)
- **hoot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoop-vs-hoot)

## Common misspellings (4)
`hhoop`, `hoopp`, `hopo`, `ohop`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hoop