holler

1 of 3

verb

hol·​ler ˈhä-lər 

hollered; hollering ˈhä-lə-riŋ 

ˈhäl-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to cry out (as to attract attention or in pain) : shout

hollering for help

2

: gripe, complain

will always holler about tax increases

transitive verb

: to call out (a word or phrase)

hollering her daughter's name

holler

2 of 3

noun

1

: shout, cry

give a holler if you need any help

2

: complaint

3

: an African American work song freely improvised usually in terms of the particular occupation of the moment and often without words

a cornfield holler

holler

3 of 3

chiefly dialectal variant of hollow

Synonyms of holler

Verb

• complain
• scream
• whine
• moan
• mutter

Noun

• shout
• howl
• scream
• cry

Examples of holler in a Sentence

Verb

He was hollering across the fields to his workers.

They were screaming and hollering at each other all night.

She hollered across the street, “Did you hear the news?”.

Someone was hollering my name.

People always holler about tax increases.

Noun

heard a holler from somewhere in the woods and ran toward it

there didn't seem to be a thermostat setting that wouldn't bring a holler from somebody

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

None of these words mean anything to me, but there was more hooting and hollering for this announcement in the press section of Caesar's than for any other piece of news today, so that's gotta count for something. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Apr. 2026

The families hollered in celebration and got an extra moment for photos once the popemobile stopped so Leo could bless a couple of babies. —CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

Noun

At the time of Paton and Payton picked Barron, last spring’s first-round selection, folks didn’t whoop and holler. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026

Its rumble barreled over crowds gathered at KSC’s press site drowning out cheers, hollers and the clicking sounds of cameras snapping away pictures of the liftoff. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

alteration of hollo

First Known Use

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for holler

• caller
• collar
• crawler
• dollar
• faller
• haller
• hauler
• scholar
• smaller
• squalor
• taller
• trawler

Kids Definition

holler

verb

hol·​ler

ˈhäl-ər

hollered; hollering

-(ə-)riŋ

1

: to cry or call out : shout

2

: complain sense 1

holler noun