boo

1 of 4

interjection

used to express contempt or disapproval or to startle or frighten

boo

2 of 4

noun (1)

plural boos
1
: a shout of disapproval or contempt
2
: any utterance at all
usually used in negative constructions
never said boo

boo

3 of 4

verb

booed; booing; boos

intransitive verb

: to deride especially by uttering a prolonged boo

transitive verb

: to express disapproval of by booing
the crowd booed the referee

boo

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural boos
US slang
: a romantic partner : sweetheart, honey
Your parents might keep a sharp eye on potential partners and your besties may lay down difficult "friend tests," but only one real opinion on your new boo truly matters: what your dog thinks of them.Jaime Lees
This has left me skeptical of all new relationships—including my new boo.Griffin Wynne

Examples of boo in a Sentence

Noun (1) A chorus of boos was heard after the shot missed the goal. The announcement was greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers. Verb Many people in the crowd booed when the announcement was made. Many people in the crowd booed the announcement, but a few people cheered it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Interjection
Williams also recalled witnessing the Super Bowl crowd boo Taylor Swift when she was shown on the jumbotron cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
When Ratcliffe and fellow co-owner Avram Glazer appeared on-screen, boos rang out among the 1,000-strong crowd of employees and family, once during the game and then again at full time. Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 22 May 2025 Later, boos erupted when Shipman culminated her speech. Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Verb
If that 14-0 run had been the other way early in the fourth quarter and the Knicks went down 16, they're getting booed. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 In his return to Texas, Alex Rodriguez is roundly booed by fans at the Ballpark in Arlington. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for boo

Word History

Etymology

Interjection

expressive formation; the voiced labial release and high vowel presumably heighten the suddenness of the utterance

Noun (1)

derivative of boo entry 1

Verb

derivative of boo entry 2

Noun (2)

of uncertain origin

Note: Perhaps ultimately a hypocoristic reduction of brother, applied to unrelated males, but the details are unclear.

First Known Use

Interjection

1639, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1833, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boo was in 1639

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boo. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

boo

1 of 2 interjection
used to express contempt or disapproval or to startle or frighten

boo

2 of 2 noun
plural boos
1
: a shout of disapproval or contempt
2
: any sound at all
never said boo
boo verb

More from Merriam-Webster on boo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!