tout

verb \ ˈtau̇t , in sense 1 also ˈtüt \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: tout in a Sentence

Definition of tout

touted; touting; touts

transitive verb

1 : to make much of : promote, talk up

touted as the summer's blockbuster movie

the college's much touted women's studies program

2 : to solicit, peddle, or persuade importunately

not meant to tout you off the movie
—Russell Baker

3 : to spy on : watch

4 a British : to spy out information about (a racing stable, a horse, etc.)

b : to give a tip or solicit bets on (a racehorse)

intransitive verb

1 : to solicit patronage

2 a chiefly British : to spy on racehorses in training to gain information for betting

b : to give a tip or solicit bets on a racehorse

See tout defined for English-language learners

See tout defined for kids

Examples of tout in a Sentence

The company is running advertisements touting the drug's effectiveness.
The company's stock is being touted by many financial advisers.
People were touting tickets outside the stadium.
People were touting outside the stadium.

Recent Examples of tout from the Web

The decisions dismayed backers of the industry who say the failure to promote Connecticut’s fuel cell industry is a slap at economic development that for years touted the state’s ties to fuel cell companies.

— stephen singer, courant.com, "Steep Share Drop At FuelCell Energy Tied To Earnings Miss, Connecticut Energy Policy," 8 June 2018
In addition to the PhD student, Athens voters elected four new commissioners and a new mayor who each touted their liberal policies.

— britni danielle, Essence.com, "Georgia Woman Sworn Into Office With ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’," 7 June 2018
And none of the candidates who touted their scientific credentials—a list that includes volcanologist Jess Phoenix, technologist Brian Forde, pediatrician Mai Khanh Tran, and geophysicist Grant Kier--won their contested contests.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Scientists fare poorly in Super Tuesday primary vote," 6 June 2018
Current Interim District Attorney Summer Stephan is a 28-year veteran of the office who touts her experience and knowledge of the office, and her lifelong career as a prosecutor.

— greg moran, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Experience a key issue in district attorney race," 29 May 2018
In another post, Dhillon urged Republicans not to be fooled by mailers being sent by an independent expenditure committee backing Villaraigosa that tout Allen.

— joe garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, "Top California Republican urges Travis Allen to endorse rival John Cox," 24 May 2018
Stevens made the decision to stick with Marcus Morris, who had touted his skills as a LeBron stopper, on James after the feisty power forward picked up two fouls in the first three minutes.

— rohan nadkarni, SI.com, "No Underdogs Here: Boston Is on the Brink of NBA Finals for a Reason," 15 May 2018
To continue reading this story, TRY IT NOW Participation had been organized at Clark and Holmes high schools in the Northside Independent School District, according to the Tea Party Patriots website that touted the event.

— krista torralva, San Antonio Express-News, "Clark, Steele high school students stage walkout for Second Amendment," 2 May 2018
The door shields come from the brand Angel Armor, which tout the panel's easy installation and light weight.

— nashelly chavez, sacbee, "Bullets pierced a police car door during a shootout. Now officers may get better protection | The Sacramento Bee," 1 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of tout

Middle English tuten to protrude, peer; probably akin to Old English tōtian to stick out, Norwegian tyte

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1700

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

See Words from the same year

tout Synonyms

Phrases

doff one's hat to (or doff one's cap to);

tout

noun

Definition of tout

: one who touts: such as

a : one who solicits patronage

b chiefly British : one who spies out racing information for betting purposes

c : one who gives tips or solicits bets on a racehorse

See tout defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of tout from the Web

My team has spent most of the past 20 years being a broken shell of itself, trying out 10 different head coaches (including interims) since Shula, trying tout 18 different starting quarterbacks post-Marino.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Confessions, frustrations of a lifelong Dolphins fan who grew up to cover the team | Miami Herald," 11 May 2018
Egypt's parliament has passed a law that would impose fines on overly aggressive touts as part of efforts to revive the country's tourism sector.

— Fox News, "Egypt's parliament passes law to fine aggressive touts," 26 Apr. 2018
In efforts to revive its tourism sector, Egypt has passed a bill this week imposing fines on overly aggressive touts.

— Washington Post, "Egypt’s parliament passes law to fine aggressive touts," 25 Apr. 2018
Eighty-eight percent tout treatments and only 18% mention screening, even though early diagnosis is more critical to survival than the interventions romanticized on TV.

— steve salerno, WSJ, "In the War on Cancer, Truth Becomes a Casualty," 20 Apr. 2018
Today, listings from one coast to another tout Bitcoin as a way to make a property transaction.

— andrew zaleski, Curbed, "Bitcoin’s young investors put their digital currency to work in the physical world," 21 Mar. 2018
Here’s my French version: Chez eux, ils ont tout en double.

— douglas hofstadter, The Atlantic, "The Shallowness of Google Translate," 30 Jan. 2018
She and a host of other Venezuelans - army deserters, laborers, nurses - arrived to a barrage of offers from touts peddling trips on rickety buses to cities such as Quito, Lima and Santiago.

— anthony faiola, chicagotribune.com, "Venezuelans are fleeing their crisis-torn country en masse," 3 Mar. 2018
Lowe's touts that almost 40% of its seasonal workers move into permanent part-time and full time jobs in 2017.

— charisse jones, USA TODAY, "Home Depot, Lowe's embark on spring hiring sprees as labor market stiffens," 14 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of tout

1853

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TOUT Defined for English Language Learners

tout

verb

Definition of tout for English Language Learners

: to talk about (something or someone) as being very good, effective, skillful, etc.
: to try to persuade people to buy your goods or services
: to buy tickets for an event and resell them at a much higher price

tout

noun

Definition of tout for English Language Learners

: a person who sells information about which horses are likely to win the races at a racetrack
: a person who buys tickets for an event and resells them at a much higher price