1 B1 informal
To wander around in a sad, listless way, showing that you are unhappy or feeling sorry for yourself.
"Since she broke up with him, he's been moping about the flat and not eating properly."
mope about
B1 informal intransitive
To move around slowly and aimlessly in a gloomy or dejected state, feeling sorry for oneself.
In plain English
Walk around the house looking sad and feeling sorry for yourself.
What does "mope about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To spend time in a low-spirited, unmotivated state without purpose or energy.
"You can't just mope about all summer — why don't you sign up for a course or join a club?"
Usage tip
Slightly more British than American. Often used with mild impatience by the speaker — implying the person should cheer up and do something. Used to describe someone dwelling on unhappiness.
Words that pair with "mope about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
house flat all day stop don't bedroom
How to conjugate "mope about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
mope about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mopes about
he/she/it
Past simple
moped about
yesterday
Past participle
moped about
have + pp
-ing form
moping about
continuous
Hear "mope about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "mope about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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