tout

1 of 2

verb

ˈtau̇t 

in sense 1 also

ˈtüt 

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

tout

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Synonyms of tout

Verb

• advertise
• announce
• promote
• acclaim

Examples of tout in a Sentence

Verb

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 on the Web

Verb

The threat to pull up stakes has created a disconnect after Ellison has spent more than a year touting how his family’s growing collection of media properties would strengthen traditional Hollywood. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

But such luck doesn’t extend far beyond the opening credits, which tout the star power of Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts, Dianne Wiest, plus rising stars Odessa A’zion and Toby Wallace. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

It is touted as the first Arabic detective novel to be translated into English. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Sep. 2026

Newsom touted those regulations as the most far-reaching of their kind in the nation. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tout

• ticket tout

Rhymes for tout

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout

Kids Definition

tout

verb

ˈtau̇t, 

ˈtüt

: to make much of : promote