hoe

noun

\ ˈhō

Definition of hoe

(Entry 1 of 4)

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 : backhoe

hoe

verb

hoed; hoeing

Definition of hoe (Entry 2 of 4)

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.

Hoe

biographical name (1)

\ ˈhō

Definition of Hoe (Entry 3 of 4)

Richard March 1812–1886 son of Robert Hoe American inventor

Hoe

biographical name (2)

Definition of Hoe (Entry 4 of 4)

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

Other Words from hoe More Example Sentences Learn More About hoe

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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: Noun One will actually have to break out a shovel and a hoe. — John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 30 May 2021 Prepare the ground with a hoe and rake up the last of the winter leaves and needles. — Laura Wheatman Hill, chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2021 On Sunday, after the pork has been melting into its fat for about 24 hours, Arcadio grabs the hoe. — Janelle Bitker, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2021 Pull weeds out by the roots or cut off the top growth with a hoe. — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2021 In the past, the ball, hosted by the Texas State Society of Washington, has been a staple of the inaugural party season, with thousands of guests from Texas and beyond spending top-dollar to dine on Tex-Mex and hoe-down on the dance floor. — Elizabeth Thompson, Dallas News, 18 Jan. 2021 Weeds growing in beds can also be killed by hand removal or killing them with a push-pull hoe. — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 28 Dec. 2020 Handheld aerators are pushed into the ground with some help from a foot, much like a pitchfork or hoe. — Lauren Corona, chicagotribune.com, 17 Oct. 2020 Even the symbol of wildland firefighting — a combination ax and hoe known as the Pulaski Tool — was invented by a 1910 veteran, Edward Pulaski, Pyne said. — NBC News, 11 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The new director of the nation's top public health institute is looking at a tough row to hoe. — Star Tribune, 14 Feb. 2021 Mackay's Moral: Pray for a good crop but don't forget to hoe. — Harvey Mackay, Star Tribune, 13 Dec. 2020 There’s concern he’ll get lost in the shuffle some weeks, and being a rookie receiver isn’t an easy row to hoe amid the demands of a normal season. — Cory Bonini, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2020 Maintain Dig in blood and bone meal along with compost once the soil dries out a little (to prevent clods); wait for weed sprouts to follow, then hoe them in. — Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 16 Mar. 2020 Other than this is going to be a tough road to hoe for Brian Flores. — Albert Breer, SI.com, 9 Sep. 2019 That leaves advocates such as Taddese and Berhe with a tough row to hoe. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2019 Also, readers should know that Apple faces a long, hard row to hoe in getting websites and apps to sign on to this. — Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 3 June 2019 What’s different in 2018 is that most of the smaller Oscar contenders — and even some of the bigger ones — have found tough rows to hoe at the box office. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, 30 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hoe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.