hawk

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
: any of numerous diurnal birds of prey belonging to a suborder (Falcones of the order Falconiformes) and including all the smaller members of this group
especially : accipiter
2
: a small board or metal sheet with a handle on the underside used to hold mortar
3
: one who takes a militant or combative attitude (as in a dispute) and advocates immediate vigorous action
especially : a supporter of a war or warlike policy compare dove entry 1

hawk

2 of 5

verb (1)

hawked; hawking; hawks

intransitive verb

1
: to hunt birds by means of a trained hawk (see hawk entry 1 sense 1) : to practice falconry
2
: to soar and strike like a hawk (see hawk entry 1 sense 1)
birds hawking after insects

transitive verb

: to hunt (someone or something) in flight like a hawk (see hawk entry 1 sense 1)
hawking insects

hawk

3 of 5

verb (2)

hawked; hawking; hawks

transitive verb

1
: to raise by trying to clear the throat
hawk up phlegm
2
informal : to forcefully spit out (something, such as phlegm) : hock entry 5
hawk a loogie

intransitive verb

: to utter a harsh guttural sound in or as if in trying to clear the throat

hawk

4 of 5

noun (2)

: an audible effort to force up phlegm from the throat

hawk

5 of 5

verb (3)

hawked; hawking; hawks

transitive verb

: to offer (something) for sale by calling out in the street
hawking newspapers
broadly : sell

Examples of hawk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Despite their frustrations with Meta, Trump’s comments on TikTok were frustrating to some of the China hawks in his orbit who want the former president to take a tougher line. Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Burns said birders could spot over 100 hawks in the Anza-Borrego Desert each day. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 In one of the better videos on the internet this week, a hungry hawk gets in a fight with a defensive mother hen. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 28 Feb. 2024 Multi-Payload Drones For Search And Defense Drones are like a hawk's keen eye fused with the analytical precision of a supercomputer. Amir Emadi, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Known as a staunch defense hawk, the move appeared out of alignment with Graham's previous backing for Ukraine. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2024 Even some of the most outspoken Republican hawks in the Senate voted against the aid, most notably Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who opposed the package after speaking with Mr. Trump. Peter Baker, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Swainson’s hawks often travel in groups of tens of thousands of birds, sometimes with a mix of other species, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 The concept of falconry may bring to mind a Mongolian warrior watching a hawk soar across the steppe. Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
The company started selling $2,000 gold bars on its website in September and recently started hawking 25-count tubes of one-ounce silver coins for $675. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 With so many eyes glued to the tube all at once, advertisers shell out enormous sums to hawk their wares, while super star performers consider headlining the Halftime Show a career highlight. Doug McIntyre, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Saturday Night Live took aim at former President Donald Trump‘s decision to hawk gold sneakers for about $400 a pair with a reimagining of the 1992 flick White Men Can’t Jump called White Men Can Trump. William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 25 Feb. 2024 That is a particularly valuable commodity on Radio Row, the primary vessel for companies to hawk their wares at one of the largest entertainment events of the year. Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 For one, he's turned to hawking 9/11 shirts for $911 and at one point was selling video messages on Cameo for $325 a pop. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2023 One booth is hawking Wagyu beef jerky, another wants to introduce you to gochujang cheese. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024 Once again, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is upon us, bringing thousands of tech workers, journalists, startup founders, bloggers and early adopters to Las Vegas to hawk and gawk at the most useful, wonderful and weird new gadgets. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 The family eventually returned to the U.K., but his time in that island nation opened Pang’s eyes to varied Southeast Asian cuisines being hawked by street vendors as well as foods from around the world brought for lunch by his classmates at an international school. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hawk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English hauk, from Old English hafoc; akin to Old High German habuh hawk, Russian kobets a falcon

Verb (1)

Middle English hauken, derivative of hauk hawk entry 1

Verb (2)

imitative

Noun (2)

derivative of hawk entry 3

Verb (3)

back-formation from hawker entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1604, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hawk was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hawk

Cite this Entry

“Hawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hawk. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hawk

1 of 4 noun
1
: any of numerous birds of prey that have a strong hooked bill and sharp curved claws and are smaller than most eagles
2
: a person who supports war or warlike policies
hawkish adjective

hawk

2 of 4 verb
: to hunt birds by means of a trained hawk

hawk

3 of 4 verb
: to offer for sale by calling out in the street
hawk vegetables

hawk

4 of 4 verb
1
: to make a harsh coughing sound in or as if in clearing the throat
2
: to raise by hawking
hawk up phlegm
Etymology

Noun

Old English hafoc "hawk"

Verb

back-formation from 2hawker

Medical Definition

hawk

1 of 2 transitive verb
: to raise by trying to clear the throat
hawk up phlegm

intransitive verb

: to make a harsh coughing sound in clearing the throat

hawk

2 of 2 noun
: an audible effort to force up phlegm from the throat

More from Merriam-Webster on hawk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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