boo
1 Americaninterjection
noun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
interjection
-
an exclamation uttered to startle or surprise someone, esp a child
-
a shout uttered to express disgust, dissatisfaction, or contempt, esp at a theatrical production, political meeting, etc
-
is extremely timid or diffident
verb
Usage
What else does boo mean? Boo is the sound we pretend ghosts make as well as a sound we make when we really don’t like something. Boo is also an affectionate term for one's significant other, similar to bae.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
boosimple
-
boossimple
-
have booedperfect
-
has booedperfect
-
am booingprogressive
-
are booingprogressive
-
is booingprogressive
-
have been booingperfect progressive
-
has been booingperfect progressive
Past
-
booedsimple
-
had booedperfect
-
was booingprogressive
-
were booingprogressive
-
had been booingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of boo1
First recorded in 1630–40; expressive formation
Origin of boo2
First recorded in 1955–60; of uncertain origin
Origin of boo3
1985–90; of uncertain origin; possibly an alteration of French beau “boyfriend, admirer”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And so the reader is forced to declare: “My only friend in the whole wide world is a hippo named BOO BOO BUTT.”
From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 2022
Each culminates with Sam calling out these misguided Lotharios in lengthy, ruthless monologues that end with summaries as simple as, “You are a bummer. BOO on YOU,” followed by semi-orgasmic heaving breathing.
From Salon • Sep. 14, 2017
At the word "Hoover"' the delegates sent up a mighty BOO.
From Time Magazine Archive
For the first time during the Games, the stadium crowd set up a mighty BOO !
From Time Magazine Archive
I ask while Boo is in the living room trying to write BOO HOOPERMAN.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
