hoops

noun

plural of hoop
as in loops
a circular strip made Christmas garlands from hoops of red and green construction paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hoops The court had also been used for basketball, with the hoops still up behind the baseline. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 If the injunction is granted, Council would be eligible to play another season of college hoops while the lawsuit was addressed. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026 That was in reference to Alabama men’s basketball player Charles Bediako’s failed attempt to sue his way back into college hoops. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Then there is Anunoby, who played at Indiana where basketball nets hang on barns and until Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington, football season mostly meant preseason hoops season. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 John Nurse used hula hoops, spray insulation foam, and the chassis of a 1979 Honda Odyssey ATV to build a dragon based on his 10-year-old's direction. — Deena Prichep, NPR, 18 Aug. 2026 Most Versatile This counter stool in light oak from Article doesn’t go through the hoops of reinventing a classic—the slight frame and dependable base are going to be stylish and functional no matter what your design aesthetic is. — Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 17 Aug. 2026 Fingall was a four-year contributor at Stanford before graduating in 2020 and embarking on a career in international hoops. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Choose from a mix of Sterling Forever's classics, like tennis bracelets and necklaces, pendant styles, studs, hoops and more accented with beautiful colors. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoops
  1. loops
  2. rings
  3. bands
  4. circles
  5. belts
Noun
  • Hapag-Lloyd indicated that the average waiting time at Ningbo is about three to four days for Gemini loops and three days for non-alliance services.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The makeup pouch has multiple makeup brush holders, elastic and mesh pockets, loops, and dividers.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of loops
Noun
  • Steve Steve Young took the torch from Joe Montana in San Francisco and won three Super Bowl rings and a pair of MVP awards.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The chain also offers fries, onion chips, mozzarella sticks and chicken rings, to name a few fan-favorite sides.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of rings
Noun
  • Reddington disputed the prosecution’s take on the elastic workout bands Clancy used to strangle her children.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors allege Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband to pick up takeout food and medicine, then, while he was gone, strangling the children with exercise bands.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of bands
Noun
  • Though interest in peptides is popular in certain wellness circles, including with podcasters like Joe Rogan, many of those who are seeking alternative medicine or who are going back to traditional cultural practices don’t fit the MAHA archetype.
    — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This year’s competition saw 429 drivers from 49 states who have logged a combined total of nearly 775 million safe driving miles throughout their careers, which is over 31,000 circles around the earth.
    — Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of circles
Noun
  • Lore told Fortune positions are represented by colors modeled after taekwondo belts, progressing from white and yellow through brown and black.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • SpaceX, meanwhile, has six Falcon 9 boosters with at least 30 flights under their belts, led by B1067's 36.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of belts

Browse Nearby Words

hooplike
hoops
hooray
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoops. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All