What does moping mean?
To mope is to behave in a dejected, sorrowful, or sulking way, often while remaining inactive or withdrawn. The expression commonly suggests a person is allowing disappointment or sadness to dominate their mood: someone might mope after a breakup, mope about a lost opportunity, or simply mope in silence. Moping is not necessarily a strong or dramatic reaction, but it does carry a mild implication of passivity and self-absorption. In everyday contrastive phrasing, people are often told not to mope and to remain positive instead. The word is related to mope and ultimately to an older sense of looking disconsolately or having a mop-like, drooping appearance.
To behave in a dull, dejected, or sulking manner because of sadness, disappointment, or discouragement.
"He was tired of moping in his room and decided to go outside."
Often implies passivity or sulking; it is common in everyday speech.
Sad, dejected, or dispirited in appearance or behavior.
"A moping teenager sat alone beside the window."
The adjectival use typically describes a person, manner, or appearance and is somewhat informal.
To mope is to let sadness take over your posture: the word literally evokes a lowered, mop-like appearance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does moping come from?
The word comes from the verb mope, which is related to the older noun meaning a head of hair and to an earlier sense of looking disconsolately or sulking. The older forms are generally traced to Dutch, where similar words are associated with a sad or sulking expression. The present participle moping developed alongside the verb in English and has become common in the expression of being dejected or downcast.
Related word forms
How moping is actually used
The word is generally informal to neutral in register. It often implies inactivity or self-pity, although it can also describe someone quietly withdrawn because of grief, disappointment, or unhappiness.
Easily confused with moping
Moping usually means to sulk or behave dejectedly, while mourning refers more specifically to grieving for a death or serious loss.