hoe

1 of 2

noun

1
: any of various implements for tilling, mixing, or raking
especially : a tool with a thin flat blade on a long handle used especially for cultivating, weeding, or loosening the earth around plants
2

hoe

2 of 2

verb

hoed; hoeing

intransitive verb

: to work with a tool with a thin flat blade on a long handle to cultivate, weed, or loosen the earth around plants : to use or work with a hoe (see hoe entry 1) or backhoe
hoeing in the garden all day

transitive verb

1
: to weed, cultivate, or thin (a crop) with a hoe (see hoe entry 1)
hoeing carrots and turnips
2
: to remove (weeds) by hoeing
3
: to dress or cultivate (land) by hoeing
The garden needs to be hoed.
hoer noun

Examples of hoe in a Sentence

Verb The garden has to be hoed. She was hoeing in the garden all day.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Trying to pin down the human mental capacity of being creative or imaginative, and tie that to the human capacity of madness or hallucinating is a tough road to hoe. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 The divers harvest abalone, sea urchins and more by venturing into dark waters without the aid of oxygen tanks or professional diving equipment, instead using instruments like nets and hoes. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
Amazon’s focus on augmenting Buy with Prime with additional services like Buy with Prime Assist is a clear indication that there are still plenty of rows to be hoed in this arena. Chris Walton, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Johnnie was the gardener who planted, hoed, and harvested. Ronni Lundy, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for hoe 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English howe, from Anglo-French houe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German houwa mattock, houwan to hew — more at hew

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hoe

Cite this Entry

“Hoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoe. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hoe

1 of 2 noun
: a farm or garden tool with a thin flat blade at nearly a right angle to a long handle that is used especially for weeding and loosening the earth

hoe

2 of 2 verb
hoed; hoeing
: to use or work with a hoe

Biographical Definition

Hoe 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Richard March 1812–1886 son of Robert Hoe American inventor

Hoe

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Robert 1784–1833 American (English-born) printing-press manufacturer
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