hurrah

[ huh-rah, -raw ]

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation of joy, exultation, appreciation, encouragement, or the like.)

verb (used without object)

1. to shout “hurrah.”

noun

1. an exclamation of “hurrah.”
2. hubbub; commotion; fanfare.
3. a colorful or tumultuous event; spectacle or celebration:

   We celebrated the centennial with a three-day hurrah.

hurrah

/ huːˈreɪ; hʊˈrɑː; hʊˈreɪ /

interjection

1. a cheer of joy, victory, etc

verb

1. to shout "hurrah"

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurrah¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from German hurra

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurrah¹

C17: probably from German hurra; compare huzzah

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. last / final hurrah, a final moment or occasion of glory or achievement:

   The new play will be her last hurrah as an actress before she retires.

Example Sentences

In a last hurrah before exploding, a star brightened, suggesting that it blasted some of its outer layers into space.

From Science News

Some streamers and viewers had already made peace with the closing and opted out of the final hurrah.

From Washington Post

I’d say that there are two conditions under which going for the hurrah makes sense.

From Ozy

Michael Vick The next couple seasons should be the last hurrah for the almost 34-year-old quarterback.

From The Daily Beast

Then perhaps one more in December 2015 and maybe one final hurrah in 2016.

From The Daily Beast

If an editor at the paper will speak up for journalistic ethics, hurrah.

From The Daily Beast

If this is indeed her last hurrah, as many Democrats were predicting yesterday, Pelosi gave no hint of when she might step down.

From The Daily Beast

In honor of this last hurrah, The Daily Beast has combed through clips of past debates.

From The Daily Beast

Aunt Jane sat on the front seat; uncle Tom jumped up beside her with the reins in his hands; the children shouted "Hurrah!"

From Project Gutenberg

A rousing Hurrah resounded from thousands of throats as the Emperors train entered the station.

From Project Gutenberg

A loud hurrah rings out from the soldiers who watch them from the Falmouth shore.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not a hurrah that they gave so much as a wild, jubilant cry of inexpressible joy.

From Project Gutenberg

We met him about fifty yards from the boat, and raised a loud hurrah.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Hurrah

What does hurrah mean?

Hurrah is a word to shout when you want to celebrate something.

Hurrah is an interjection, meaning it’s a term used to express emotion, often outside of a sentence.

Hurrah is sometimes spelled hoorah. Similar and related words are hooray, hurray, and huzzah. All of these words are used in the same way—as a celebratory exclamation (something to shout in celebration).

Hurrah started as something to shout out loud, but today it’s probably pretty rare for people to literally shout “Hurrah!” (It sounds a bit old-timey, and people are more into yelling woo! and woo-hoo!) But hurrah is still often used as an interjection in informal, conversational writing, such as social media posts and texts. To show appreciation for something in particular, you might write hurrah for followed by that thing, as in Hurrah for three-day weekends!

Hurrah can be used as a verb meaning to shout hurrah or to celebrate, as in They were hurrahed for their bravery. 

It can also be used to refer to a cheer of hurrah (as in a big hurrah from the crowd), commotion or fanfare (as in There was much hurrah following the announcement), or a showy spectacle or celebration (as in We’ll have a big hurrah to celebrate).

Hurrah is also part of the common phrase last hurrah, meaning a final attempt, competition, performance, success, or celebration before something ends, such as a career.

Example: Hurrah! The package I ordered is here!

Where does hurrah come from?

The first recorded uses of terms like hurrah, hooray, and hurray come from the 1700s and 1800s. Hooray and hurray are thought to be variants of hurrah, which comes from the similar German term hurra. All of these may or may not have been based on or influenced by the earlier and very similar huzzah. Huzzah is thought to come from a word that sailors used to shout in celebration. It may derive from the word hoise, meaning “to hoist”—which they’d shout when hoisting (raising) something, like the sails of the ship. Today, huzzah is used in the same way as hooray and hurrah.

Hurrah can be used in any situation in which you want to shout out in celebration. When it’s followed by for, it’s meant to celebrate or show appreciation for whatever’s next, as in Hurrah for you, graduate! 

A big hurrah can refer to a big fuss or a big celebration or a big commotion. A last hurrah or a final hurrah is the last time doing something, especially when it’s significant or celebratory, before something ends, such as a period of time in a particular job or school. For example, an athlete’s last hurrah might be one last game or tournament before retirement, especially if they win.

Next time you woo-hoo, throw in a hurrah, and maybe a huzzah.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to hurrah?

• hoorah (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for hurrah?

• hooray
• hurray
• huzzah
• woo-hoo
• whoopee

What are some words that often get used in discussing hurrah?

 

• last
• final
• exclamation
• celebration
• shout
• yell
• interjection

How is hurrah used in real life?

Hurrah is a word for shouting that’s usually just written with an exclamation point.  It’s always used informally.

I’m feeling *vastly* better, mostly. Brain starting to work! No shortness of breath. Earache comes and goes. Yesterday I had an awful sore throat. Today it’s gone, hurrah.

— Maud Newton (@maudnewton) May 19, 2020

Wish you well for decades more to come …and yes, a big hurrah to NHS and all its staff.

— Kasra Naji (@BBCKasraNaji) May 25, 2020

Senior Sunset was wonderful last night, it was truly a great last hurrah before graduation.

— Riley Kocich (@RK62_) May 22, 2020

 

 

Try using hurrah!

Is hurrah used correctly in the following passage?

Hurrah! Only three more days until it’s my birthday!