tout

1 of 2

verb

ˈtau̇t 

in sense 1 also

ˈtüt 

touted; touting; touts

transitive verb

1

: to make much of : promote, talk up

touted as the summer's blockbuster movie

the college's much touted women's studies program

2

: to solicit, peddle, or persuade importunately

… not meant to tout you off the movie.

—Russell Baker

3

: to spy on : watch

4

a

British : to spy out information about (a racing stable, a horse, etc.)

b

: to give a tip or solicit bets on (a racehorse)

intransitive verb

1

: to solicit patronage

2

a

chiefly British : to spy on racehorses in training to gain information for betting

b

: to give a tip or solicit bets on a racehorse

tout

2 of 2

noun

: one who touts: such as

a

: one who solicits patronage

b

chiefly British : one who spies out racing information for betting purposes

c

: one who gives tips or solicits bets on a racehorse

Synonyms of tout

Verb

• advertise
• announce
• promote
• acclaim

Examples of tout in a Sentence

Verb

The company is running advertisements touting the drug's effectiveness.

The company's stock is being touted by many financial advisers.

People were touting tickets outside the stadium.

People were touting outside the stadium.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Higgs boson, discovered in 2012 after decades of searching, was widely touted as the final missing piece of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Los Angeles Unified opened its 1,300 schools Wednesday as educators showed off classrooms and student programs — and touted academic goals in a show of stability for a year that will be marked by uncertainty and transition. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Matador Oceanfront Resort touts itself as one of the most affordable oceanfront hotels in North Wildwood. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Faced with federal cuts that slashed billions annually from public healthcare, state legislators touted $250 million Monday in funding to help salvage California’s public hospital system. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tuten to protrude, peer; probably akin to Old English tōtian to stick out, Norwegian tyte

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tout

• ticket tout

Rhymes for tout

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout

Kids Definition

tout

verb

ˈtau̇t, 

ˈtüt

: to make much of : promote