Meaning & use
shoot hoops
Last updated
UK/ˌʃuːt ˈhuːps/
US/ˌʃut ˈhups/
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
To play basketball in a relaxed way, mostly by throwing the ball at the basket for fun or practice.
Grammar: Intransitive in use: no object after hoops.
Patterns
- shoot hoops with someone
- shoot hoops after school
After school the boys shoot hoops in the park.
I like to shoot hoops alone to clear my head.
Do you want to shoot hoops this weekend?
Word forms
| third person singular | shoots hoops |
|---|---|
| past tense | shot hoops |
| past participle | shot hoops |
| -ing form | shooting hoops |
Common combinations
- shoot hoops after school
- They shoot hoops after school every Friday.
- shoot hoops in the driveway
- Dad likes to shoot hoops in the driveway.
- go shoot hoops
- Let's go shoot hoops before dinner.
- shoot hoops with friends
- She shoots hoops with friends on Saturdays.
- shoot hoops alone
- He shoots hoops alone when he needs to think.
Synonyms and how they differ
- play basketball
- This is neutral and can mean a full organized game, whereas shoot hoops is casual.
- shoot baskets
- This is almost the same but a little more neutral and slightly dated.
- play pickup
- This suggests an informal game among whoever turns up, not solo practice.
- practice shooting
- This is more serious and training oriented than shoot hoops.
Word family
Commonly confused: shoot hoops or hula hoop?
shoot hoops vs hula hoop
A hula hoop is a ring twirled around the waist, which is a different toy and activity.
Practice
Which sentence best uses 'shoot hoops'?
Choose one answer.
Shoot hoops means to play casual basketball. The other sentences use shoot in other senses that do not combine with hoops.
Make it your own
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