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
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.
Noun
Suddenly, a hoe swings through the air, claiming the life of one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 1 Apr. 2024 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
Verb
The directors branch is notoriously snobby, which will be a tough row to hoe for Wicked’s Jon M. Chu, who got his start directing films in the Step Up and G.I. Joe franchises. Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2024 Slowly, the trail widened with signs of civilization: hoed rows of plantings, waxy horses. Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024 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 2 Dec. 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
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!