drooping
UK: ˈdruːpɪŋ | US: ˈdrupɪŋ
adj. hanging or bending downward; sagging
v. present participle of droop: to bend or hang downward limply
The word droop originates from Old Norse drúpa ("to hang down, sink"), which passed into Middle English as droupen. The -ing suffix is a productive English morpheme used to form present participles or gerunds. Together, drooping vividly describes something bending or sagging under its own weight, often implying weariness or lack of support. The imagery connects to natural phenomena like wilting flowers or tired eyelids.
The drooping branches of the willow tree brushed the water’s surface.
Her drooping posture revealed exhaustion after the long shift.
The flowers were drooping from lack of water.
He tried to hide his drooping eyelids during the boring lecture.
The old flag hung drooping on the windless day.