plural hoots
1
: the loud, deep sound made by an owl
also
: a similar loud, deep sound
(Brit) the hoot [=honk] of a car's horn
2
: a loud laugh or call made by a person
hoots of laughter
The announcement was met with hoots of derision/scorn.
3
informal
: an amusing person or thing
—usually singular
Your father is a hoot.
Wasn't that a hoot?
hoots; hooted; hooting
1
of an owl
: to make a hoot
We could hear an owl hooting in the woods.
2
British
a
of a horn
: to make a loud sound : honk
a hooting horn
b
British
: to cause (a horn) to hoot
The people in the cars behind us kept hooting [=(US) honking] their horns.
I hooted at the car in front of me.
3
: to call out or laugh loudly
The crowd booed and hooted when it was announced that the show was canceled.
The crowd hooted its disapproval.
The speaker was hooted down by a small group of protesters. [=the protesters loudly shouted at the speaker so that the speaker could not be heard]
The speaker was hooted off the platform by a small group of protesters.
Cite this Entry
“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/hoot. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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