Hoot Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary mobile search

• Home
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Quizzes
• Core Vocabulary
• Browse the Dictionary

×

• Britannica Homepage
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Quizzes
• Core Vocabulary
• Browse the Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary hoot 2 ENTRIES FOUND:

• hoot (noun)
• hoot (verb)

1 hoot /ˈhuːt/ noun plural hoots 1 hoot /ˈhuːt/ noun plural hoots Britannica Dictionary definition of HOOT [count] 1 : the loud, deep sound made by an owl also : a similar loud, deep sound

• (Brit) the hoot [=honk] of a car's horn

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 : a loud laugh or call made by a person

• hoots of laughter
• The announcement was met with hoots of derision/scorn.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 3 informal : an amusing person or thing — usually singular

• Your father is a hoot.
• Wasn't that a hoot?

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

give a hoot

informal also care a hoot : to care at all about someone or something — used in negative statements

• I don't care a hoot about what they say.
• I don't give two hoots about his problems.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 hoot /ˈhuːt/ verb hoots; hooted; hooting 2 hoot /ˈhuːt/ verb hoots; hooted; hooting Britannica Dictionary definition of HOOT 1 [no object] of an owl : to make a hoot

• We could hear an owl hooting in the woods.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 British a [no object] of a horn : to make a loud sound : honk

• a hooting horn

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples b British : to cause (a horn) to hoot [+ object]

• The people in the cars behind us kept hooting [=(US) honking] their horns.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples [no object]

• I hooted at the car in front of me.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 3 : to call out or laugh loudly [no object]

• The crowd booed and hooted when it was announced that the show was canceled.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples [+ object]

• The crowd hooted its disapproval.
• The speaker was hooted down by a small group of protesters. [=the protesters loudly shouted at the speaker so that the speaker could not be heard]
• The speaker was hooted off the platform by a small group of protesters.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples ASK THE EDITOR

What are the plural forms of check-in, passerby, and spoonful? See the answer »

QUIZZES Vocabulary Quiz Test your word power Take the Quiz » Name That Thing Take our visual quiz Test Your Knowledge » WORD OF THE DAY

essential : extremely important and necessary Learn More »

1. About Us & Legal Info
2. Contact Us
3. Privacy Notice
4. Terms of Use
5. Pronunciation Symbols
6. Help

© 2026 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.