hoot

1 of 3

verb

hooted; hooting; hoots

intransitive verb

1
: to shout or laugh usually derisively
2
: to make the natural throat noise of an owl or a similar cry
3
: to make a loud clamorous mechanical sound

transitive verb

1
: to assail or drive out by hooting
hooted down the speaker
2
: to express or utter with hoots
hooted their disapproval

hoot

2 of 3

noun

1
: a sound of hooting
especially : the cry of an owl
2
: a minimum amount or degree : the least bit
don't give a hoot
3
: something or someone amusing
the play is a real hoot
hooty adjective

hoot

3 of 3

interjection

variants or hoots
chiefly Scotland
used to express impatience, dissatisfaction, or objection

Examples of hoot in a Sentence

Verb We could hear an owl hooting in the woods. I hooted at the car in front of me. The crowd booed and hooted when it was announced that the show was canceled. The crowd hooted its disapproval. The speaker was hooted off the platform by a small group of protesters. Noun The announcement was met with hoots of derision. the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort to the lawyer's arrogant remark
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Since the theatrical release of Minecraft last Friday, dozens of videos have hit social media showing young audiences hooting, hollering, jumping from their seats, and throwing popcorn during certain scenes. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Expect to hoot and holler while watching. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
The comments are a hoot Fire and Braids named The Republic's best tamale in metro Phoenix. Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024 Our driver, Stu, was a hoot and snuck in a couple of impromptu stops at Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest street, and the historic Dunedin Railway Station, an architectural landmark considered to be the most photographed building in New Zealand. Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hoot

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English houten, of imitative origin

Interjection

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

1540, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoot was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoot. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hoot

1 of 2 verb
1
: to utter a loud shout usually of scorn
2
: to make the characteristic call of an owl or a similar sound
3
: to drive out by hooting
hooter noun

hoot

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sound of hooting
especially : the call of an owl
2
: a very small amount
don't give a hoot
3
: an amusing person or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on hoot

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