WordGarden.iohoot
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈuːt/
US
- /ˈhut/
Meanings
Noun
the cry of an owl
an amusing or enjoyable person, event, or experience
a loud shout, laugh, or call, especially one of amusement or scorn
Verb
to make the cry of an owl
to shout, laugh, or call out loudly, often in amusement or scorn
Beyond the definition
A "hoot" can be a loud burst of laughter, like when friends cannot stop laughing at a great joke. It is also the deep call of an owl in the night. People can also hoot at someone to show disapproval or to make fun of them, like a crowd reacting to a bad performance. In everyday talk, if you call someone or something "a hoot," you mean they are very funny and fun to be around. The word often brings to mind strong, lively sounds, whether they come from people, birds, or even a horn.
The word "hoot" is a vibrant piece of the English language with deep roots in sound. Most commonly, it refers to a loud, sudden burst of laughter. When an audience responds with "hoots of mirth," it suggests a raw, unrestrained sense of fun. It is also the primary term for the characteristic cry of an owl—that hollow, rhythmic "hoo-hoo" that defines the nighttime atmosphere. This usage is onomatopoeic, meaning the word itself mimics the sound it describes.
However, "hoot" carries a sharper edge when used to express derision. To hoot at a speaker or a performer is to shout or call out in disapproval, a vocal form of rejection often heard in rowdy theaters or sports stadiums. In some varieties of English, "hoot" can also refer to the sound made by a horn or siren, or to making that sound to get attention.
Beyond these literal sounds, "hoot" has found a home in common idioms. If you describe a person or an event as "a real hoot," you are saying they are hilarious or a lot of fun. Conversely, the phrase "I don't give a hoot" is a popular, slightly old-fashioned way to say you don't care at all about a particular situation. From the quiet of a forest to the roar of a comedy club, "hoot" captures a wide spectrum of human and animal expression.
Examples
- 1
Animal sound
An owl hooted somewhere in the dark.
- 2
Car horn
The car behind us hooted as soon as the light turned green.
- 3
Crowd reaction
Some of the crowd hooted at the referee's decision.
- 4
Loud laughter
The kids were hooting with laughter by the end of the story.
- Phrasehoot with laughter
laugh very loudly
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Funny thing
That old comedy is still a hoot, even after all these years.
- Phrasea hoot
very funny or enjoyable
- 6
Indifference
He doesn't give a hoot what his neighbors think.
- Phrasenot give a hoot
not care at all
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hootnounverb
Forms
- hootspluralnounverb
- hooting-ing formverbnoun
- hootedpast tenseverbnoun