hawk

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈhȯk 

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

Synonyms of hawk

Noun (1)

• militant
• militarist
• warmonger
• war hawk

Verb (3)

• peddle
• wholesale
• distribute
• merchandise

Examples of hawk in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the hawks were claiming that without war there could be no peace

Verb (3)

a determined bootstrapper who went from hawking newspapers on the street corner to running a media empire

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, having a December CR was unlikely to garner any support from fiscal hawks such as those in the Freedom Caucus, whose considerable numbers could easily sink any bill, thanks to Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) razor-thin majority. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025

With court cases, exposé docuseries, and tell-all memoirs plaguing the Housewives universe, fans will be watching like a hawk, if a hawk had a Peacock subscription. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025

Verb

In all its years of hawking food court franks, Costco hasn't raised the price since the 1980s – even as the median price of grab-and-go meals has soared with inflation. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

Their active ingredients are virtually indistinguishable from those of the many oral supplements already hawked by the wellness industry. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing hawk

• chicken hawk
• Cooper's hawk
• death's-head hawk moth
• faux hawk
• ferruginous hawk
• fish hawk
• Harris's hawk
• hawk-like
• hawk moth
• marsh hawk
• mosquito hawk
• pigeon hawk
• red-shouldered hawk
• red-tailed hawk
• rough-legged hawk
• sharp-shinned hawk
• sparrow hawk
• Swainson's hawk
• war hawk
• watch (someone or something) like a hawk

Rhymes for hawk

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

hawk

1 of 4 noun

ˈhȯk 

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

ˈhȯ-kish 

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

ˈhȯk 

: 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