holler

1 of 3

verb

hol·​ler ˈhä-lər How to pronounce holler (audio)
hollered; hollering ˈhä-lə-riŋ How to pronounce holler (audio)
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
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

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
But visitors can do other kinds of hooting and hollering at Aspen Highlands, one of the four mountains that make up the Aspen Snowmass area (the others are Aspen, Buttermilk, and Snowmass), all skiable under a single lift pass. Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024 The way Maniscalco hollered and lunged during the bit had the audience in stitches. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2024
Noun
This corner of the South has also been putting country music on the map since the early 20th century when talent scout and music producer Ralph Peer traveled to Bristol from New York City to record the songs coming out of the area’s hills and hollers. Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024 As search and rescue teams continue to examine stream beds and debris piles in hollers throughout North Carolina's western mountains, the toll of lives lost in Hurricane Helene's horrific flooding mounts daily. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for holler 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holler.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of holler was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near holler

Cite this Entry

“Holler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holler. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

holler

verb
hol·​ler
ˈhäl-ər
hollered; hollering
-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to cry or call out : shout
2
holler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on holler

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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