Loop — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈlüp/

Meaning & Definition of Loop

Loop (noun)

  1. a curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked
  2. such a fold of cord or ribbon serving as an ornament
  3. something shaped like or suggestive of a loop
  4. loophole

Loop (verb)

  1. to make or form a loop
  2. to move in loops or in an arc
  3. to execute a loop in an airplane

Loop (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a circular strip

    "cut the paper into narrow strips, and then paste those into loops"

    similar: band, circle, eye, hoop, ring, round
    related: belt, cincture, collar, girdle, wreath, annulet, becket, coil, curl, furl, hank, spiral, spire, twirl, whorl

Loop (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in circle, spiral

    similar: circle, coil, curl, curlicue, spiral, arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, sweep, swerve, trend, wheel, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer
    opposite: straighten

Related Entry: Knock for a loop (phrase)

Knock for a loop is a different word from Loop. The synonyms below are for knock for a loop, not for loop.

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "When word spread about their coworker's tragic accident, it knocked them for a loop."

    similar: appall, floor, jolt, shake up, shock
    related: astonish, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, freak (out), stun, stupefy, affright, alarm, dismay, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, disgust, nauseate, repel, revolt, sicken, turn off, displease, offend, outrage, scandalize, amaze, astound, awe, chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, undo, unman, unnerve, unstring, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, shake, unsettle, upset, weird out, crush, overpower, overwhelm
    near: buffer, cushion, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, charm, entice, tempt, assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, reassure

  2. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "She was knocked for a loop when she heard she got three job offers in one week."

    similar: amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise, thunderstrike, take aback, take by surprise
    related: befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up

  3. to make senseless or dizzy by a blow

    "She was knocked for a loop by the impact of the airbag when it deployed."

    similar: daze, rock, stun, knock silly
    related: deaden, knock out, paralyze, benumb, numb, stupefy, bowl over, knock down, bang, bash, belt, bludgeon, bonk, bop, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, mangle, maul, pelt, pummel

  4. to achieve a victory over

    "The boxer really knocked his opponent for a loop."

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Related Entry: Knocked for a loop (phrase)

Knocked for a loop is a different word from Loop. The synonyms below are for knocked for a loop, not for loop.

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "When word spread about their coworker's tragic accident, it knocked them for a loop."

    similar: appalled, floored, jolted, shocked, shook up
    related: astonished, bowled over, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, freaked (out), stunned, stupefied, affrighted, alarmed, dismayed, frighted, frightened, horrified, panicked, scared, scarified, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, disgusted, nauseated, repelled, revolted, sickened, turned off, displeased, offended, outraged, scandalized, amazed, astounded, awed, chilled, daunted, demoralized, dispirited, emasculated, undid, unmanned, unnerved, unstrung, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, shook, unsettled, upset, weirded out, crushed, overpowered, overwhelmed
    near: buffered, cushioned, delighted, gratified, pleased, rejoiced, tickled, charmed, enticed, tempted, assured, cheered, comforted, consoled, solaced, soothed, reassured

  2. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "She was knocked for a loop when she heard she got three job offers in one week."

    similar: amazed, astonished, astounded, bowled over, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, floored, rocked, shocked, startled, stunned, stupefied, surprised, thunderstruck, took aback, took by surprise
    related: befuddled, bewildered, blew away, blindsided, confounded, confused, dazed, discomfited, disconcerted, dismayed, jarred, muddled, nonplussed, perplexed, shook up

  3. to make senseless or dizzy by a blow

    "She was knocked for a loop by the impact of the airbag when it deployed."

    similar: dazed, rocked, stunned, knocked silly
    related: deadened, knocked out, paralyzed, benumbed, numbed, stupefied, bowled over, knocked down, banged, bashed, belted, bludgeoned, bonked, bopped, clobbered, clocked, clouted, hammered, hit, pasted, pounded, punched, rapped, slammed, slapped, slugged, smacked, smote, socked, struck, swatted, thumped, thwacked, walloped, whacked, whaled, battered, beat, buffeted, bunged, chopped, cuffed, drubbed, mangled, mauled, pelted, pummeled

  4. to achieve a victory over

    "The boxer really knocked his opponent for a loop."

    similar: beat, bested, conquered, defeated, did down (British), dispatched, got, got around, licked, mastered, overbore, overcame, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, subdued, surmounted, took, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, got the better of
    related: swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped (British), annihilated, blew away, blew out, bombed, broke, buried, clobbered, creamed, crushed, drubbed, finished, flattened, overwhelmed, routed, shellacked, skinned, slaughtered, smoked (slang), snowed under, thrashed, trounced, upset, walloped, waxed (slang), whipped, capped, excelled, flourished, scored, succeeded, knocked off, knocked over, overpowered, overthrew, subjugated, unseated, vanquished, aced (out), bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, outdid, outdistanced, outfought, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, transcended
    opposite: lost (to)
    near: fell, gave up, went down, went under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out

Related Entry: Knocks for a loop (phrase)

Knocks for a loop is a different word from Loop. The synonyms below are for knocks for a loop, not for loop.

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "When word spread about their coworker's tragic accident, it knocked them for a loop."

    similar: appalls, floors, jolts, shakes up, shocks
    related: astonishes, bowls over, dumbfounds, flabbergasts, freaks (out), stuns, stupefies, affrights, alarms, dismays, frightens, frights, horrifies, panics, scares, scarifies, spooks, startles, terrifies, terrorizes, disgusts, nauseates, repels, revolts, sickens, turns off, displeases, offends, outrages, scandalizes, amazes, astounds, awes, chills, daunts, demoralizes, dispirits, emasculates, undoes, unmans, unnerves, unstrings, discomforts, discomposes, disconcerts, disquiets, distresses, disturbs, perturbs, shakes, unsettles, upsets, weirds out, crushes, overpowers, overwhelms
    near: buffers, cushions, delights, gratifies, pleases, rejoices, tickles, charms, entices, tempts, assures, cheers, comforts, consoles, solaces, soothes, reassures

  2. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "She was knocked for a loop when she heard she got three job offers in one week."

    similar: amazes, astonishes, astounds, bowls over, dumbfounds, flabbergasts, floors, rocks, shocks, startles, stuns, stupefies, surprises, thunderstrikes, takes aback, takes by surprise
    related: befuddles, bewilders, blindsides, blows away, confounds, confuses, dazes, discomfits, disconcerts, dismays, jars, muddles, nonpluses, perplexes, shakes up

  3. to make senseless or dizzy by a blow

    "She was knocked for a loop by the impact of the airbag when it deployed."

    similar: dazes, rocks, stuns, knocks silly
    related: deadens, knocks out, paralyzes, benumbs, numbs, stupefies, bowls over, knocks down, bangs, bashes, belts, bludgeons, bonks, bops, clobbers, clocks, clouts, hammers, hits, pastes, pounds, punches, raps, slams, slaps, slugs, smacks, smites, socks, strikes, swats, thumps, thwacks, wallops, whacks, whales, batters, beats, buffets, bungs, chops, cuffs, drubs, mangles, mauls, pelts, pummels

  4. to achieve a victory over

    "The boxer really knocked his opponent for a loop."

    similar: beats, bests, conquers, defeats, dispatches, does down (British), gets, gets around, licks, masters, overbears, overcomes, overmatches, prevails (over), skunks, stops, subdues, surmounts, takes, trims, triumphs (over), upends, wins (against), worsts, gets the better of
    related: sweeps, edges (out), noses out, pips (British), annihilates, blows away, blows out, bombs, breaks, buries, clobbers, creams, crushes, drubs, finishes, flattens, overwhelms, routs, shellacs, skins, slaughters, smokes (slang), snows under, thrashes, trounces, upsets, wallops, waxes (slang), whips, caps, excels, flourishes, scores, succeeds, knocks off, knocks over, overpowers, overthrows, subjugates, unseats, vanquishes, aces (out), betters, eclipses, exceeds, outdistances, outdoes, outfights, outshines, outstrips, overtops, surpasses, tops, transcends
    opposite: loses (to)
    near: falls, gives up, goes down, goes under, collapses, fails, flops, flunks, folds, washes out

Related Entry: Knocking for a loop (phrase)

Knocking for a loop is a different word from Loop. The synonyms below are for knocking for a loop, not for loop.

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "When word spread about their coworker's tragic accident, it knocked them for a loop."

    similar: appalling, flooring, jolting, shaking up, shocking
    related: astonishing, bowling over, dumbfounding, flabbergasting, freaking (out), stunning, stupefying, affrighting, alarming, dismaying, frightening, frighting, horrifying, panicking, scarifying, scaring, spooking, startling, terrifying, terrorizing, disgusting, nauseating, repelling, revolting, sickening, turning off, displeasing, offending, outraging, scandalizing, amazing, astounding, awing, chilling, daunting, demoralizing, dispiriting, emasculating, undoing, unmanning, unnerving, unstringing, discomforting, discomposing, disconcerting, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, shaking, unsettling, upsetting, weirding out, crushing, overpowering, overwhelming
    near: buffering, cushioning, delighting, gratifying, pleasing, rejoicing, tickling, charming, enticing, tempting, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, solacing, soothing, reassuring

  2. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "She was knocked for a loop when she heard she got three job offers in one week."

    similar: amazing, astonishing, astounding, bowling over, dumbfounding, flabbergasting, flooring, rocking, shocking, startling, stunning, stupefying, surprising, thunderstriking, taking aback, taking by surprise
    related: befuddling, bewildering, blindsiding, blowing away, confounding, confusing, dazing, discomfiting, disconcerting, dismaying, jarring, muddling, nonplussing, perplexing, shaking up

  3. to make senseless or dizzy by a blow

    "She was knocked for a loop by the impact of the airbag when it deployed."

    similar: dazing, rocking, stunning, knocking silly
    related: deadening, knocking out, paralyzing, benumbing, numbing, stupefying, bowling over, knocking down, banging, bashing, belting, bludgeoning, bonking, bopping, clobbering, clocking, clouting, hammering, hitting, pasting, pounding, punching, rapping, slamming, slapping, slugging, smacking, smiting, socking, striking, swatting, thumping, thwacking, walloping, whacking, whaling, battering, beating, buffeting, bunging, chopping, cuffing, drubbing, mangling, mauling, pelting, pummeling

  4. to achieve a victory over

    "The boxer really knocked his opponent for a loop."

    similar: beating, besting, conquering, defeating, dispatching, doing down (British), getting, getting around, licking, mastering, overbearing, overcoming, overmatching, prevailing (over), skunking, stopping, subduing, surmounting, taking, trimming, triumphing (over), upending, winning (against), worsting, getting the better of
    related: sweeping, edging (out), nosing out, pipping (British), annihilating, blowing away, blowing out, bombing, breaking, burying, clobbering, creaming, crushing, drubbing, finishing, flattening, overwhelming, routing, shellacking, skinning, slaughtering, smoking (slang), snowing under, thrashing, trouncing, upsetting, walloping, waxing (slang), whipping, capping, excelling, flourishing, scoring, succeeding, knocking off, knocking over, overpowering, overthrowing, subjugating, unseating, vanquishing, acing (out), bettering, eclipsing, exceeding, outdistancing, outdoing, outfighting, outshining, outstripping, overtopping, surpassing, topping, transcending
    opposite: losing (to)
    near: falling, giving up, going down, going under, collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Loop

The most common words with a similar meaning to Loop:

band, circle, eye, hoop, ring, round, coil, curl, curlicue, spiral, arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, sweep, swerve, trend, wheel, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Loop

Words with the opposite meaning of Loop:

straighten

Related Words for Loop

belt, cincture, collar, girdle, wreath, annulet, becket, furl, hank, spire, twirl, whorl

Word Forms of Loop

Inflections: looped, looping, loops

Origin & Etymology of Loop

Middle English loupe, of unknown origin

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Loop

Words & Phrases Containing Loop

loop of Henle, loop the loop, closed loop, for a loop, ground loop, Henle's loop, knock for a loop

Frequently Asked Questions about Loop

What does "Loop" mean?

"Loop" means a curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Loop"?

Other words for "Loop" include band, circle, eye, hoop, ring, round, coil and curl. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Loop" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Loop"?

There are 39 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Loop". Common alternatives include band, circle, eye, hoop, ring, round, coil, curl, curlicue and spiral.

What is the opposite of "Loop"?

Antonyms of "Loop" include straighten.

How do you use "Loop" in a sentence?

Examples of "Loop" in a sentence: "cut the paper into narrow strips, and then paste those into loops".

Is "Loop" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Loop" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Loop" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Loop" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Loop"?

"Loop" is pronounced /ˈlüp/.