hoot 1 of 2

Definition of hootnext
1
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort to the lawyer's arrogant remark

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2
as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking until he'd had his say

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3
4
as in scream
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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hoot

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hoot
Noun
And Donnie was so into it and so prepared, and just a hoot. Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026 Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Sit in a deck chair and hoot and holler at skiers going by. Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026 An out of shape owl emerged, followed by jealous girlfriend owl and the ADHD-riddled owl, who is far too distracted to hoot. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
  • Oli’s shout for Manzambi is a good one.
    Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Stick with alcohol-free, subtle formulas so the scent settles into the fabric rather than shouts from it.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • On a night when Lee somehow turned a 73.2 mph snort into a home run, Chapman staged another losing battle while hoping for a conventional one.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • My wife, meanwhile, guards against the occasional loud snort with one of the oldest and most elegant anti-snoring technologies ever devised: earplugs.
    Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And if that is to be the case, most Chicagoans do not give a damn whether the team goes to Arlington Heights or Hammond.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
  • In a world of drivers mostly ruled by their corporate sponsors, Busch was an otherworldly talent who simply did not give a damn.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • And then there were the screams.
    Latif Love June 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
  • As the ball landed safely on the other side of the left field fence at Nationals Park on Monday, Dylan Crews clenched his fists and let out a scream.
    Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Timothée Chalamet exited through the same tunnel and was also hooting and hollering with his fellow Knicks fans.
    Tim Rohan, NBC news, 11 June 2026
  • After beating the throw to first base, Bowen clapped his hands together and hollered a few times.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Outrage became loud when the night's heavyweight champion, Josh Hokit, insulted former first lady Michelle Obama to host Joe Rogan moments after winning his fight.
    Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
  • The two-minute trailer includes a recreation of the famous sailor-kissing-a-nurse photo from V-J Day, a woman insulting David’s butter churning, some trench warfare repartee about the looks of a soldier’s love back at home, the Boston Tea Party, and jokes about child labor.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • With his rakish sneer and ruthlessly tight jodhpurs, Rupert has been thoroughly neutered with irony, transformed into an object for women to pick at.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
  • Of course, the prospect of one of the greatest women’s footballers in history skittering around Bromley on a Saturday lunchtime in front of a smattering of fans inevitably inspires sneers.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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