hoops

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralinformalAmerican

   Basketball, especially when played informally or watched as a game.

   Grammar: Always plural in this sense and used with a plural verb: hoops are fun.

   Patterns

   • play hoops
   • shoot hoops

   We play hoops at the park every Saturday morning.

   He grew up shooting hoops in his driveway after school.

   Let's watch some hoops tonight instead of a movie.

2. 2nounusually plural

   Large rings used in games, toys, or gymnastics, such as a hula hoop.

   Grammar: Usually plural because these come in sets or as a pair; a single one is a hoop.

   Patterns

   • spin hoops
   • jump through hoops

   The children spun their hoops around their waists for a whole minute.

   She bought two colorful hoops for her daughter's birthday.

3. 3nouncountable

   Circular bands of metal or wood used to hold something together or to decorate it.

   Grammar: Countable here, so you can say a hoop, two hoops, the hoops.

   Patterns

   • wooden hoops
   • metal hoops

   The barrel was held together with iron hoops.

   She hung small wooden hoops on the wall as decoration.

Word forms

Common combinations

play hoops

They play hoops at the community center on Fridays.

shoot hoops

We shot hoops for an hour before dinner.

hula hoop

My niece can keep a hula hoop spinning for ages.

jump through hoops

The staff had to jump through hoops to get the permit.

basketball hoop

He fixed a basketball hoop above the garage door.

Synonyms and how they differ

basketball

The standard, neutral name for the sport; hoops is informal and mostly American.

ring

A general word for a circular shape; use ring for jewelry or a circle, not for the sport.

Word family

hoop noun

A single ring or circular band.

hooped adjective

Having hoops or shaped like a hoop.

Commonly confused: hoops or hoop?

Practice

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