Droop means to hang down limply or sag from tiredness or weakness. When flowers don't get enough water, their stems and petals droop toward the ground. When you're exhausted after a long day, your shoulders might droop and your head might hang forward.

The word captures that downward, sagging quality that happens when something loses its usual firmness or energy. A dog's ears might droop when it feels sad or guilty. Eyelids droop when someone struggles to stay awake during a boring lecture. Branches droop under the weight of heavy snow.

Drooping involves a loss of strength or vitality along with the bending motion. A fresh sunflower stands tall and proud, but after a week in a vase without water, it begins to droop. Similarly, your spirits might droop when you hear disappointing news, or your energy might droop on a hot afternoon.

The opposite of drooping would be standing upright, perky, or alert. When something perks up after drooping, like a plant after watering, you can see the life returning to it.