hoot

¹ American  

[hoot] / hut /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

   Synonyms:

   hiss, boo, jeer

2. to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

3. to utter a similar sound.

4. Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

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verb (used with object)

1. to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision.

   The fans hooted the umpire.

   Synonyms:

   razz, boo

2. to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

3. to express in hoots.

   The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

noun

1. the cry of an owl.

2. any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

3. a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

4. British. a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

5. Informal. the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle.

   His religion doesn't matter a hoot to me.

6. Slang. an extremely funny person, situation, or event.

   Your cousin is such a hoot!

idioms

1. not give / care a hoot, to not care at all: null not givecare two hoots.

   I don't give a hoot.

hoot ² American  

[hoot] / hut /

Or hoots

interjection

Scot. and North England.

1. (used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

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hoot ¹ British  

/ huːt /

noun

1. the mournful wavering cry of some owls

2. a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle

3. a jeer of derision

4. informal an amusing person or thing

   the weekend was a hoot

5. not to care at all

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verb

1. (often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)

2. (tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting

3. (intr) to make a hoot

4. (intr) to blow a horn

hoot ² British  

/ huːts, huːt /

interjection

1. an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

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hoot ³ British  

/ huːt /

noun

1. a slang word for money

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hoot More Idioms  

1. see not give a damn (hoot).

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Other Word Forms

• hootingly
  adverb
• unhooted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoot¹

First recorded in 1200–1250; Middle English verb houten, whoten; imitative of the sound

Origin of hoot²

First recorded in 1600–10; hoot ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “shout of disapproval or derision”)

Explanation

A hoot is the musical call an owl makes. The hoot of an owl sounds very much like the word hoot. An owl's hoot is the inspiration for a similar sound that people make to show disapproval or scorn: "The sound of the crowd's hoots filled the stadium when the soccer player kicked the ball into his own team's goal." To make this sound, whether you're a person or an owl, is to hoot, and if you don't give a hoot, it means you really don't care at all.

Example Sentences

His wife, Kathleen, barely mentions politics while overseeing archery lessons at Hoot & Holler Archery, their store in Bossier City in northern Louisiana.

From New York Times • Oct. 27, 2023

Roy Rogers held annual rodeos with film stars such as Hoot Gibson and Wild Bill Elliott.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2023

Hoot and Staci Gibson, both retirees, moved a few years ago from Bend, Oregon, to one of the city’s most verdant communities.

From Seattle Times • May 3, 2022

Willis enjoyed spending time with Gibson’s father, Hoot, and some scenes were filmed on family property -- Willis and his then-pregnant wife, Demi Moore, took a picture with young Tripp.

From Fox News • Dec. 14, 2021

Hot Pie said, "Hoot like an owl when you want us to come."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• boo
• heckle
• hiss
• howl
• jeer
• scream
• whistle